Little King Robin (left) and Arctic Fire jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
< Little King Robin continued her remarkable run of success with a seventh victory of the campaign in the feature WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.
Stepping into Grade Two company after scoring at Listed level at Punchestown a fortnight ago, Colin Bowe's six-year-old (9-2) was as usual well clear at halfway, but the writing looked on the wall when favourite Arctic Fire loomed up alongside.
Willie Mullins' challenger took a narrow advantage going to the last, but Little King Robin is nothing if not game and she responded bravely to Mark Walsh's urgings to get back in front and pass the post three lengths clear.
Mullins had better luck when 8-15 favourite Morning Run stretched her unbeaten sequence to five with an impressive second victory over the smaller obstacles in the EBF Lough Construction Ltd Mares Novice Hurdle.
She travelled strongly in front under Ruby Walsh for most of the way and could be called the winner a long way out, though she gave her supporters a scare when she stretched for the last and stumbled on landing before coasting to a seven-and-a-half-length success.
Noel Meade's six-year-old Apache Stronghold (3-10 favourite) boasted high-class form over hurdles and made a smooth transition to fences in the Porter & Co Beginners Chase, leading all the way under Paul Carberry and comfortably holding Thunder And Roses by three lengths.
Jim Dreaper's well-backed Sizing Solution (11-8 favourite) put in an impeccable round of jumping from the front under Johnny Burke to win the Robinson Services Handicap Chase as he liked, coming six lengths clear of Pires
Graham Watters lost his whip going to the last on Better Back Bob as he was challenging for the lead in the Eventsec Maiden Hurdle, but it made no difference as Neil McKnight's 5-1 shot ended a run of four seconds by mastering favourite Champoleon to score by three and a half lengths.
Davy Russell picked up a spare ride to win the Allianz Handicap Hurdle on Never Said That (10-1), while the Mullins-trained Valerian Bridge (4-5 favourite) completed his hat
