Positive Approach and Phillip Enright on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
John Joe Walsh enjoyed a double at Thurles, culminating in Positive Approach s victory in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle.
Always travelling strongly for Philip Enright, the 5-1 chance had Toushan for company approaching the final flight, but he asserted well close home to score by six lengths.
Walsh's double started when Nine Stiches gained reward for his consistency with an emphatic victory in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Hot favourite Berry Des Aulmes never looked comfortable in the race and after Brian O'Connell pushed the 5-1 chance into the lead on the home turn he was always in command, beating Stuccodor by a yawning 27 lengths.< Swamp Fox got the better of a thrilling three-way run to the line in the Leugh Maiden Hurdle.< Never Again looked to have got the better of the issue when jumping the last in front, but Joseph Murphy's 7-4 chance got back up on the run-in to the line and had enough to fend off the strong finish of Cradle Mountain by half a length.< Oscar Lantern was made to work hard to justify 11-10 favouritism in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Charles Byrnes' charge took over from Gran Cavallo between the final two flights under Davy Russell, seemingly going much the best, but Gran Cavallo made the winner pull out all the stops up the run-in, eventually going down by a length and a half.
Pat Fahy's Any Drama turned the Fethard INH Flat Race into a procession.
Katie Walsh was happy to push the 7-1 chance to the head of affairs from the outset, and she had all her rivals beaten on the home turn, eventually recording a 22-length victory over Sutton Manor
Christy Roche's Dragon Khan (6-1) stayed on strongest to land the Killinan Handicap Hurdle under Jody McGarvey, while the well-backed Lucky In Milan (8-1) landed the Munster Handicap Hurdle for trainer Oliver McKiernan and jockey Ian McCarthy.
