Vroum Vroum Mag© Photo Healy Racing
< Don Cossack (6-4) extended his unbeaten run to four in the feature Grade Two Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase, but the contest was robbed of a potentially spectacular finish with Champagne Fever taking a final-fence fall when still holding a narrow lead.
Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old, who was successful in Grade One company on his last outing, had Willie Mullins' grey in his sights and had ranged up to challenge when his rival met the last on a bad stride and was sent spiralling out of the contest.
Last year's winner Texas Jack could never land a blow, trailing home in a distant second.
Mullins and Walsh didn't have to wait long for compensation, though, as exciting mare Vroum Vroum Mag (1-2fav) continued her flawless start for the County Carlow handler, breezing to a 26-length victory in the Grade Two Leading Light Coolmore National Hunt Sires European Breeders Fund Mares Novice Chase.
In an eventful contest which saw only four of the eight runners complete, she kept her cool and sauntered effortlessly clear to collect the & euro;34,125 first prize, in the process providing her jockey with a double.
The first leg came thanks to Measureofmydreams (4-1) who delivered a withering run between the final two flights to lower the colours of his better-fancied stablemate Milsean (1-4fav) by two lengths in the W.T O'Grady Memorial European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle.< Knockraha Pylon caused a 66-1 upset in the opening www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle, getting back up having been headed two out.
Short-priced favourite Baily Cloud appeared to have the race sewn up but found little for pressure as Johnny Burke galvanised his mare to a two-and-three-quarter-length success.< Kilcrea (11-4) was fortunate when landing the Thurles Handicap Chase by a neck from Betterthanalright as Empire Of Dirt departed at the second-last with the race seemingly at his mercy.< Golden Plan (4-1) scored cosily by three-quarters of a length from Horendus Hulabaloo in the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, while the concluding A
