The western air and the minimum trip seem to be the key to Split Ear and he was on the mark again in Connacht when landing the Guinness Handicap Hurdle under Emmet Mullins.

Those that supported the victorious son of Stowaway from 7/1 into 5/1 were on good terms with themselves when he came there cruising two out and once sent about his business from the last Split Ear went on to outpoint Takestan by seven lengths.

Tony Mullins trains the Ballinrobe May winner for the Wexford-based Split Ear Partnership of Donal Whelan and James 'Stretch' Kent and he said: "Anytime we've tried him beyond two miles we've met with defeat so the minimum trip seems to be the key to him. He'll go for the handicap hurdle on the Wednesday at Galway now."