< Castlegrace Paddy took his game to a new level with victory in the Listed Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at Thurles.
Pat Fahy has had be patient with the seven-year-old who arrived on the back of just six racecourse appearances and a solitary outing over fences, which resulted in success at Fairyhouse in December.
He should be able to cut the mustard at an even higher level, though, because he travelled strongly, jumping for fun, and after going for home three out, came three and three-quarter lengths away from Jett at odds of 11-2.< Turcagua appeared to be bowling along merrily at the head of the affairs in the Devil's Bit Beginners Chase, only to crash out four fences from the finish.
That left Cowboy Des Long in front, but he was passed two out by Ballela Boy and Gordon Elliott's 11-2 chance stayed on well in the hands of Davy Russell to score by two and a half lengths.
Elliott and Russell doubled up when Diamond King justified 8-13 favouritism in the Enjoy White Gypsy At Finns Borrisoleigh Hurdle.
Without a win since October 2016 and unable to show his true colours at the Cheltenham Festival last week, the 10-year-old was a class apart from his three opponents here and passed the post with a length in hand of Smokey Joe Joe < Black Zero (4-1) was only fourth at Navan on Friday but recovered quickly from his exertions to win an eventful Thurles Vintners Handicap Chase.
His jockey Cathal Landers was also on the scoresheet thanks to Scheu Time s dominant performance in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
The James Nash-trained 6-4 favourite cut out the running and stormed away to account for One First Cut by six and a half lengths.
Andrew Lynch supplemented his victory on Castlegrace Paddy when taking the Bill Dowling Memorial Handicap Hurdle on Larkfield Lass (12-1), while Young Ted (9-2) ran away with the www.thurlesraces.ie (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
