< Monksland had to work harder than expected to justify 8-11 favouritism in the He'llberemembered Hurdle at Thurles.
A three-time Grade Two winner and with the benefit of a spin in last week's charity race at Punchestown under his belt, Noel Meade's charge had to be ridden along from some way out as Polar Present tried to pinch it.
He battled his way into contention before the final obstacle and eventually mastered the game Polar Present to get up by half a length.< Glens Harmony landed the odds with the minimum of fuss on her jumping bow in the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle.
A sister to dual Grade One winner Glens Melody, the 4-9 favourite had a little look at a couple of obstacles but her jumping was impressive on the whole and she came home four and three-quarter lengths clear of Tara Dylan who did herself no favours with a bad blunder at the last.< Close Shave asserted in the dying strides to claim top honours in the www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase.
The Jessica Harrington-trained 9-4 chance seemed a little flat-footed when outsider Adimelo took it up approaching the last, but Barry Geraghty got at him on the run-in and he prevailed by three-quarters of a length.
Harrington's Punchestown Festival winner Magic Of Light was strongly supported for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase but she had to settle for second best behind 11-4 chance La Bella Vida who was ridden by Monksland's jockey Sean Flanagan.< Carrigready proved too strong in the Premier County Handicap Hurdle.
The 14-1 chance came with his run at the last and he stretched four and a half lengths away from Cher Why Not < Turasoir (9-1) fared best in a three-way photo-finish to the Leugh Handicap Hurdle, while Liz Doyle followed up La Bella Vida's victory with Gran Geste (13-2) in the Munster Flat Race.
