The McSweeney Arms Hotel Hurdle lost some of its lustre with the withdrawal of Apt Approach - one of six horses scratched from the meeting by Willie Mullins due to the change in going - but that should take nothing away from the performance of Faltering Fullback
The 8-11 market leader looked beaten when headed by Turf War at the penultimate flight, but he responded admirably to Alain Cawley's urgings and got back up to score by five and a half lengths.
Cawley supplemented that success when 2006 Galway Hurdle winner Cuan Na Grai got off the mark over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
The 11-10 favourite had departed early when thrown into Grade Two company on his first try at the bigger obstacles but he relished this more straightforward task and after easing past the front-running Our Symphony at the third-last, he only had to be kept up to his work by Cawley to register an 11-length verdict.
The number of participants in the valuable M.D.O'Shea & Sons Handicap was almost halved by non-runners, and Washington Lad (6-1) capitalised under Paddy Flood.
The nine-year-old appeared booked for minor honours at best approaching the last, but Flood conjured a late rally out of him and he caught Teo Perugo close home to score by a half a length.< Junior Boss had terrible form figures heading into the Laurels Bar (C & G) Maiden Hurdle but stepped up to the mark to spring a 25-1 surprise.
Michael Hourigan's six-year-old had fallen between the flags and was brought down at Tipperary, but touched down in a share of the lead two out and was clear by the last. A slick leap at the obstacle helped him register a three-and-a-half-length defeat of Gonebeyondrecall
On the level, Summerlea (11-1) won the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, while the Killarney Vintners Handicap went the way of 11-1 shot Rajik
© www.irish-racing.com
