Kilashee (15/8f) sealed her hat-trick with another clear-cut victory in Ballinrobe and gave her trainer, John Ryan, three on the card.

The nine-year-old mare has really found her stride in winning a handicap hurdle in Kilbeggan by 38 lengths and a handicap chase at Killarney by four and a-quarter lengths, and it was more of the same tonight in the first division of the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle over 2m6f.

She adopted her customary front-running tactics and was soon clear under Shane Fitzgerald (who has been on board for all six career victories).

He was able to get a breathers into her and the the chasers thought they had half a chance between the final two flights, however, Kilashee led them a merry dance and ran on well by five lengths to the cheers of the crowd.

Fitzgerald said: "It seems like a great partnership between myself and the mare. She seems to be improving away the whole time. She actually didn't jump as fluent there at a couple as she has been doing lately.

"She's got such a turn of foot down over the first couple that nothing can really lie up with her. She just likes to do her own thing in front and I found from riding her before that if you start fighting with her, you're kind of going nowhere.

"That's her fourth win this season and to win three in such a short space of time, it's a credit to John. He's done a great job to get her back in this kind of form.

"I'm delighted for the owners (Bitview Partnership) as well, they're fairly local to here."

Ryan's other winners on the card were Drumgill (7/4f) and Flidais (3/1f).

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan