Robbie Dunne's effort on Aranhill Chief in the McHale Engineering Hurdle deserved more, but bigger names than the Dubliner have come up short against Ruby Walsh in a finish and favourite backers have the multiple champion to thank for Darroun s win at Ballinrobe.

Walsh set an ordinary pace on Darroun which Dunne quickened with a circuit to race aboard Aranhill Chief.

Darroun 'missed' the second last and it was soon hard work for the 11/10 shot to pick up Aranhill Chief. Pick him up he did though, literally on the line, a nose being the margin. There was an eleven length gap back to All Or Now in third.

Walsh said of the Willie Mullins-trained, Mrs Susannah Ricci-owned winner: "He didn't give me much help but when I needed one at the last he came up for me.

"I thought I was well up but the longer it took for them to call the result the more I thought I'd mistaken the winning post.

"That'll give him the confidence to go on from here and I'd imagine he'll go jumping fences." (DM & EM)