Cassells Rock and Donagh Meyler© Photo Healy Racing
< Cassells Rock led home a one-two for Tony Martin in the Kerry Foods Rated Hurdle at Down Royal.< Coldstonesober led for much of the two-mile contest but the complexion of the race changed when Cassells Rock quickened well to take up the running after jumping the penultimate flight.
His stable companion Pires who won this prize 12 months ago, went in pursuit but the chase was in vain and he was a length adrift of the 9-4 joint-favourite passing the post, with Morga a close-up third.< Lake Champlain showed the benefit of previous experience when battling to victory in the Molson Coors 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
A good third at Roscommon on his jumping debut just 11 days previously, the Jessie Harrington-trained 7-2 shot was left in front by the fall of Nice Vintage three from home.
He had a couple of challengers hot on his heels, with NH newcomer Tocororo getting closest, but Lake Champlain wasn't for passing and scored by half a length.
Harrington and Robbie Power followed up when Flaviana (9-2) took the Allied Bakeries Mares Maiden Hurdle in a driving finish.
Power was hard at work before the straight as Colla Pier and Hello Sweetie disputed matters, but she fought her way into contention and after jumping the last in a share of the lead, found most to triumph by a length and a half.< Rock On Rosie proved her 25-1 Kilbeggan surprise earlier this month was no fluke by supplementing it in the SHS Group Handicap Hurdle.
Sent off at just 5-1 this time, despite her 6lb rise meaning she had to shoulder top weight of 11st 11lb - minus Shane Shortall's 5lb claim & ndash; Adrian Joyce's mare made her challenge at the last and stormed three and three-quarter lengths clear of Ciankyle < Little Mitch was another at the summit of the weights but the 13-8 favourite was much too good for her rivals in the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle, beating Spicy Fruity comfortably.
