PAUL Townend and Willie Mullins completed a Grade 3 double at Tipperary when Daddy Long Legs (1/1 favourite) returned to form with a runaway success in the Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle.

Townend ensured the two-mile event was run at a good pace from the start and his mount drew well clear before the final flight to beat Smooth Tom by 16 lengths in the colours of Joe and Marie Donnelly.

Mullins’ assistant David Casey said: “Galway was a non-event as he was sideways at the start, so we just put a line through that, and I know he disappointed here earlier in the year but that was his first run since Punchestown.

“The flat track and quick ground suited him well. That’s the kind of territory he’s in. It’s either races like that or top weight in handicaps.”

Opening the double

Gaucher had earlier justified 11/10 favouritism for Townend and Mullins in the BoyleSports Novice Hurdle.

Just four went to post and Littlebiggie set a strong pace but was reeled at the penultimate flight with Gaucher just landing in front from Sunchart after the last. The Frankel gelding, owned by Mrs Rose Boyd and Mrs Marie Armstrong, proved the stronger on the run-in to beat Sunchart by half a length.

David Casey said: “It suited him with the other horse going a good gallop and he seemed to settle well. He kept galloping well and was hardy, considering he had a tough race in Listowel. The flat track probably suited him and if we could find another one like that it would be great.”

In hot pursuit

Shecouldbeanything went in pursuit of long-time leader Gaelic Arc from the end of the back straight and gradually wore him down in the Grade 3 O’Dwyer Steel Dundrum Novice Steeplechase.

The Gordon Elliott-trained mare, owned by Michael Hanrahan, mastered the gallant front-runner in the final 100 yards and scored by three parts of a length.

Winning rider Sam Ewing reported: “It was happening quick enough for her early but she’s very tough and very genuine. She’s won going away at the line.

“She’s versatile ground wise and is so straightforward you could step her up in trip and she’s also won over shorter trips as well.”

THE pride and joy of the O’Donnell family, Extensio (9/2) completed a hat-trick of wins and made it two from two over flights when landing the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.

Successful on his last two flat starts including a valuable handicap at York in August, the seven-year-old had won a maiden hurdle at Roscommon last summer. Here, under Brian Hayes, he led two out and went away to beat The Niffler by a length and three-quarters.

Pat O’Donnell, who trains the son of Xtension for his wife Una, said: “He was the smallest horse in the race with the biggest weight and Brian gave him a lovely, patient ride.

“He’s going on his holidays in the morning, and it will be nice to mix it with him next year. The Galway Hurdle maybe – it’s nice to dream about these things.”

Powerful victory

There was plenty of pace on in the Listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes and Colin Keane bided his time in mid-division on Power Under Me (15/2).

The Ger Lyons-trained six-year-old improved to lead a furlong out before staying on well to beat Fleur De Chine by a length and a quarter.

This was a fifth victory at stakes level for the Mehmas gelding. Assistant trainer Shane Lyons remarked: “He is ground dependent and soft is his ideal ground.

“He absolutely owes us nothing and has been a great servant for Vincent and Geraldine (Gaul) who are great supporters of ours.

“Himself and Mutasarref are two of the stalwarts of the yard and they could meet in the Knockaire at Leopardstown later this month.”

KORTEZ Bay (7/2 joint-favourite) struck in the Fitzgerald´s Woodlands House Hotel Handicap under Gary Carroll.

The son of New Bay got a lovely split between horses over a furlong out and accounted for Fleetfoot by a length and a half.

Sheila Lavery trains the winner for her niece Joanne Lavery and reflected: “He’s learning and strengthening all the time. Down the line he could step up to a mile and a half.”

Emit (7/4) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under Declan McDonogh.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien for Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, the son of Too Darn Hot tracked the pace and led a furlong out to beat Serious Contender by two and a half lengths.

Snug win

“It took him a while to get the message and when he did it was snug at the line,” said McDonogh.

“He’s a lovely staying colt and should be a nice one for next year.”

Hillhead Runner (22/1) made all the running and clung on to beat market leader Shadows Of My Mind by a nose in the four-year-old fillies’ bumper.

David Doyle was on board the daughter of Mahler in the colours of Willie Devlin and trainer Peter Fahey said: “When I went down through the form of the race, I thought there wasn’t much pace in it and I was saying to David to jump off and make plenty of use of her.

“She’s probably finished up now and will come back over hurdles next year.”