Rolly Baby and Archie Meade jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Rolly Baby bounced back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory in the Thurles Racecourse Hurdle this afternoon.
Grade One winning chaser First Lieutenant was as short as 4/7 for the three-mile contest in the morning but drifted out to 11/10 before returning a 9/10 shot on course.
He took them along but folded after a mistake two from home. It was left to Rolly Baby and Archie Meade to fight out the finish.
Willie Mullins charge was just always finding a bit more on the run-in to get up for a half length success under Ruby Walsh.
The 5/2 shot had won his maiden hurdle at the track in February 2013 but had then been absent until this January.
After being well held in a couple of runs he had shown more promise when running well for a long way before finishing seventh in handicap company at Naas earlier this month.
"I took a chance running him (so soon following his previous run) as he has had problems. He's been very difficult to train and at ten, is now only learning to settle," said Mullins.
"He has ability though and he has the option of another race like this or else he could go chasing. I'll speak with Ruby but he could win two chases before the ground gets firm."
First Lieutenant, a regular fixture in Grade 1 chases in recent years and winner of the Betfred Bowl at Aintree in 2013, came home last of the three finishers with Gold Patrol crashing out at the final flight when challenging for third.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
