Willie Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Katie Walsh recorded a famous triumph as she guided Thunder And Roses to victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The winner was a 20-1 shot for the Easter Monday highlight for Sandra Hughes, who took over the training licence following the death of her father, Dessie, and the gelding was one of three Gigginstown House Stud-owned runners disputing the lead at the top of the home straight.
Thunder And Roses, Band Of Blood and Rule The World jumped the final fence together, but it was the former who stayed on best and recorded a four-and-a-quarter-length verdict over the latter.
It was a good day for the Walsh family as Katie's brother, Ruby, initiated double on the card when Sempre Medici justified 9-4 favouritism in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle.
The jockey travelled confidently on the five-year-old and the pair galloped five and a half lengths clear of Identity Thief in fine style.
Willie Mullins and Walsh successfully teamed up again as Vroum Vroum Mag maintained her unbeaten record over fences in the John & Chich Fowler Memorial E.B.F. Mares Chase.
Backers of the 1-4 favourite never had a moment's worry as the talented mare cruised home 13 lengths in front of Burn And Turn < Buiseness Sivola got Mullins off to a good start when upsetting stablemate Dicosimo in the opening REA Grimes Property Consultants Hurdle.
The 7-1 chance travelled sweetly under Paul Townend and took it up approaching the second-last before pulling three clear of Prussian Eagle p>Dedigiout (2-1fav) completed a hat-trick of Grade Two wins in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.< Thousand Stars made most of the running but had no answer when Tony Martin's nine-year-old loomed large on the run in and Paul Carberry's mount ran out an impressive three-length winner.
Martin and Townend combined to score with I Shot The Sheriff (4-1fav), who strolled home three and a quarter lengths clear of Ttebbob in the Boomerang Animal Bedding Handicap Hurdle.
Martin matched Mullins' hat-trick when Anibale Fly (5-
