Tom and Helen Mullins may currently be holidaying in Waterford and their presence wasn't required at Ballinrobe as their Grand Partner got the job done in the Monroes Live Hurdle.

They had a good team on hand, in their nephew, record-breaking amateur rider Patrick Mullins, and former champion jockey, Paul Townend, to take care of things in County Mayo.

A Cork winner last time, Grand Partner may have gotten a bit lonely under Townend, going to the last, but he went away up the run-in to account for War Of The Pennys by four and a quarter lengths.

Mullins explained: "Tom asked me to give a hand out and as you can see he's 16.2 and should make a fine chaser.

"Paul said he'd be better going the other way as he was hanging out the whole way. He could probably do with a bit more give in the ground as well." (DM & EM)