Portrade (centre) leads as Smiler blunders with Macnicholson (left)© Photo Healy Racing
< Portrade (8-1) continued his consistent summer with victory in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Listowel.
The George Stanley-trained five-year-old won twice and placed a further three times on his previous five appearances, and jumped the last slightly down on leader Smiler
That rival blundered his way out of it, but Macnicholson was closing fast and Portrade had to be very resolute to see him off by half a length.< Security Breach was disappointing on his fencing debut but left that behind with a determined success in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase.
Rated 131 over timber, the 2-1 chance was far from fluent at his obstacles but, with Benemeade breathing down his neck, he saved a couple of his better leaps for the last two and stayed on for a two-and-a-half-length verdict.
Jockey Paul Townend looked like following up on Buster Dan Dan in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle, only to be caught by Memories Of Milan (13-2).
Security Breach's trainer Willie Mullins did complete a double, however, when Daring Carlotta made it three out of three in the Helena Sheahan Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Ross Coakley rode his second winner of this year's Festival when driving Face Value home in the Behans Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant Handicap.
The Jessie Harrington pair of Modem and Kabjoy appeared set to fight it out, but they were collared by 5lb claimer Coakley on the 20-1 shot, who hadn't been seen since December but stuck on well to deny Kabjoy by a neck.< Intisaab broke through in a first-time visor in the Tote Jackpot Guarantee Maiden.
Dermot Weld's even-money favourite had hit the crossbar twice so deserved his three-quarter-length defeat of Chiclet < No Wunder had the best form heading into the Frank O'Leary Memorial Maiden and justified 11-8 favouritism by a length and three-quarters, while Equation Of Time (10-1) took the Speedy's Bars Moyvane & Ballylongford Handicap.
