AS expected, the feature Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle went the way of Willie Mullins, but it was his lesser fancied Winter Fog who upstaged the 2/5 favourite Daddy Long Legs.

Rated just 3lb inferior to the market leader, the successful son of Papal Bull proved friendless with punters and was sent off a 22/1 (from 8s) chance under Brian Hayes.

After closing on the front-running Minx Tiara from three out, the Triple Lock Partnership-owned bay led after the next and quickly increased his advantage, coming home 16 lengths clear of Shecouldbeanything.

Not fluent three out when still travelling well, Daddy Long Legs soon began to struggle and was beaten before the penultimate obstacle, eventually crossing the line a well-beaten fifth.

“I’d say the ground is on the slow side and maybe a lot of them didn’t handle it whereas he did,” Patrick Mullins explained. The owners are keen to go for the Galway Hurdle and why not. We can roll the dice and see.”

On Daddy Long Legs, he added: “I didn’t get a chance to talk to Paul (Townend) yet but there is something amiss obviously, maybe the ground. It was too bad to be true.”

Ewing winner

While second in the Grade 3 highlight, Sam Ewing and Gordon Elliott later combined to take the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle with 10/1 chance Clodders Dream.

On what was his first start in handicap company, the Martaline grey made all and while not fluent at times, he stuck to his task gamely when ridden on the run-in, holding off Ballywilliam Boy by a length and three quarters.

Both Spinning Web (11/4 favourite) and Henning were poised to challenge approaching two out, but independent mistakes proved costly, and they eventually finished fifth and sixth respectively.

“He’s definitely improving. He’s a lovely big horse and will be better over a fence,” Ewing said of the Ed Mulligan owned victor.

Fingers is fastest for O’Sullivan

WITH all of the field of nine starting off over flights, the Donohue Marquees 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle looked an open affair.

However, it developed into a very one-sided contest, with the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Butter Fingers (8/1) coasting to a 29-length success in the colours of Tommy Ward.

Previously in the care of Mick Mulvany and rated just 55 on the level, the Tough As Nails grey travelled best to lead before two out and quickly settled matters under Lee Shanahan.

“He was green going to the last left on his own, but he did it well and is a horse to look forward to,” the winning rider enthused.

“I’ve been with Ross the last six years and that’s my seventh winner and first against professionals.”

There was a much tighter conclusion to the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Maiden Hurdle, with Paul Nolan’s Secrecies Of Stone (9/4 joint favourite) just coming out on top in this 18-runner heat.

Good tussle

Second on two of his last three starts, the Mangetout Partnership-owned six-year-old was settled behind the leaders by Sean O’Keeffe and despite an awkward jump two out, he soon improved to dispute the lead.

Tackled by the patiently ridden Folly Beach (18/1 from 33s) away from the last, the pair had a good tussle on the run-in, with a neck between them at the line.

“Sean felt he’d have won well only he left his hind legs in the second last and landed a bit awkwardly,” James Nolan, assistant trainer to his brother, remarked.

“In fairness, for a lad that hasn’t found too much off the bridle through the winter, he found more today and that’s pleasing.”

A field of 18 also faced the starter in the tipperaryraces.ie Handicap Hurdle, with Kieran Buckley guiding Mary’s Pride to victory in this competitive affair.

The second choice of punters at 13/2, the Eddie Cawley-trained seven-year-old improved into a close second after three out and was sent to the front before the next.

Ridden approaching the final flight, the Aizavoski bay kept on well from there and was a length and a quarter clear at the line.

“That will keep the lads (Furniture Syndicate) happy in the workplace. We have a furniture manufacturing business and I bought him for the lads there,” Cawley reflected.

“We might find something for him in Galway.”

Shine’s filly shocks at 150/1

EAGLEWOOD tore the formbook to shreds when springing a massive surprise in the concluding Tipperary Fillies INH Flat Race.

Well behind three reopposing rivals when ninth on debut at Listowel last month, the Lenny Flynn-trained grey was sent off an unconsidered 150/1 chance.

Never far from the pace under Cal Shine, the Rebecca May-owned winner improved to lead on the approach to the straight and battled on gamely when ridden in the closing stages, holding off the late surge of Pure Logic by half-a-length.

Given an unorthodox ride on the wide outside, the runner-up was sent off a well-backed 5/2 favourite, having finished second in the aforementioned Listowel contest.

“She ran on soft ground and probably didn’t act on it,” Shine, who was recording his second winner of the week, commented. We changed tactics today and I rode her good and handy. She is a good mare with a great pedigree.”

Keep faith

In the colours of Keep The Faith Bloodstock Limited, Its Not Over Yet (14/1) also had half-a-length to spare at the line, as she left previous form well behind her in the Cappawhite CE Handicap Hurdle.

Tried over three miles for the first time, the Oliver McKiernan-trained five-year-old made gradual progress on the final circuit, coming with her challenge between horses after jumping two out. Ridden in second away from the last, the 86-rated bay wore down Meehall inside the final 150 yards and kept on well in the closing stages.

“She’s from the family of Gallant John Joe so it’s great for her breeding. Hopefully she can improve a bit from that and pick up another one,” winning rider Phillip Enright divulged.