The opening South Tipperary Tourism Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary this evening went to the Noel Meade trained Gracchus under stable jockey Paul Carberry.

The son Black Minaloushe needed to battle to eventually get the betterof defeat Ixora to win by a head

Afterwards Meade stated “we hummed and hawed about running Gracchus in a mile handicap at Leopardstown today but we decided to come here today as this track’s easy two miles was sure to suit him. We may now try to win a Flat handicap with him next.”