Sicilain Secret beats Total Excitement at Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
< Blazing Tempo struck winning form again as she came out best in a thrilling three-way finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle at Kilbeggan.
Willie Mullins' 2011 Galway Plate heroine flopped in the Galway Hurdle on her return to action last month, but put in a much better show when third at Killarney and with race conditions in her favour, she was sent off the evens favourite.
Emmet Mullins sent her to the front approaching the third-last but she could never quite shake off Annie Other s attentions and there was only a neck in it at the line, with Definite Class finishing well to be a close-up third.
Champion trainer Mullins completed a double for owner Susannah Ricci when Sicilian Secret won over fences for the first time in the Midland Breeders Supporting Kilbeggan Beginners Chase.
The 4-1 co-favourite looked a hard ride for David Casey, who kept him going strongly to beat off long-time leader Mickelson and then hold Total Excitement s charge by a length.
Mullins wasn't the only trainer to land a double as local handler Dot Love did it, too, beginning when Harley Dunne took the bull by the horns to lead in the feature Angus Beef Ireland Hurdle on proven stayer Let The Show Begin
The 25-1 shot was chased hard by Mullins' Shakervilz over the final two flights but had enough in the locker to hold on by a comfortable half a length.
There was plenty of drama in the Dunbia Handicap Chase, but Mark Walsh managed to avoid it on Love's 8-1 chance Liberty Counsel who led going to the final fence and forged clear to beat Raz De Maree by four and a quarter lengths.
Andrew McNamara made a decisive move on Red Cert going to three out in the Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle and Tom Taaffe's 8-1 chance went clear to score by six lengths.
