With recent big race wins on Defy Logic and Gilgamboa fresh in the memory, Mark Walsh is riding with great confidence at the minute and he delivered Off The Charts with perfect timing as that one became the fourth winning favourite from five races, in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle. Kylecrue made his bid for glory from the fourth last where he clashed in the air with Betterthanalright We lost the fancied Malt Gem at the third last with a mistake that got rid of Davy Russell and from before the last Kylecrue was looking vulnerable to Off The Charts. The latter, owned by J P McManus, went on to score by three parts of a length.

"It's tough conditions out there but he stays well and we'll probably look to go over three miles the next day.

"He doesn't really look like being a chaser and hopefully he'll win again over hurdles," remarked winning trainer Dessie Hughes in the aftermath. (TW & EM)