Trainer Aidan Howard has been having a luckless run with lots of his runners in recent weeks but Birdie Blitz gave the Curragh handler a deserved victory in the www.McHale.net Handicap Hurdle.

The grey daughter of Milan, a winner at Fairyhouse a couple of years ago and stepping up in trip after finishing fourth at Kilbeggan last month, tracked the leaders before moving into third on the run to the last. She led early on the run-in and had no stamina frailties as she kept on well to beat Double Jubilee and Not So Simple by five lengths and a neck.

It was a double for jockey Simon Torrens after Sole Pretender in the beginners’ chase.

“It’s nice to get a double but I’m more delighted for Aidan. I’ve been based with Aidan for a long time and we’ve been hitting the crossbar all season. I think he’s had something like thirteen seconds so it’s great to get one on the board for him.”