Liberty Counsel and Ben Dalton, left, face a battle with Away We Go© Photo Healy Racing
< Liberty Counsel pulled off a 50-1 surprise when keeping on gamely to land the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Dot Love's charge took over in front on the back straight under Ben Dalton and led the field around the home turn, where Away We Go emerged as a serious threat, travelling nicely.
Away We Go got upsides at the last, and the pair battled fiercely up the run-in, but Liberty Counsel found more to score by half a length.< Carlowsantana provided another shock in the other big chase of the day, the Ladbrokes.com Novice Handicap Chase.
The 25-1 chance tore clear under Ian McCarthy and never looked back, scoring by six and a half lengths from Pass The Hat < Dressedtothenines showed her male rivals a clean pair of heels when landing the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.
Taking up the running just after the turn for home, the 9-4 chance responded well to Tony McCoy's urgings and drew clear of Zaidpour after the last to record a three and a half-length verdict.< Pique Sous (11-4) returned to winning ways when landing the other Grade Two contest on the card, the Rathbarry And Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh had opted to ride favourite Tennis Cap for Willie Mullins, but he was brushed aside in the home straight by Cops And Robbers only for the market leader's stablemate Pique Sous to sweep past and claim a two and three-quarter length victory under Paul Townend.< Akorakor looks to have a bright future after landing the valuable Racing Post Champion Point-to-Point Flat Race for trainer Gordon Elliott.
The 7-2 chance kept finding for Jane Mangan, eventually recording a three-quarters of a length success over Concordin < Brian Who (13-2) ran out a convincing winner of the Irish Field Handicap Hurdle, taking over from the front-running Happy New Year after the second last and going on to win by four and a half lengths under Mark Enright.
