“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” was winning owner JP McManus’ perfect summation of trainer Joseph O’Brien, after a long laid-out plan came to fruition when Tigris River got up on the line to snatch victory in a thrilling renewal of the Guinness Galway Hurdle, played out in front of a crowd of 30,294 on a tempestuous day in Ballybrit. How fitting the victory came 20 years after his father, Aidan, landed the feature with Toast The Spreece.

Classy nine-year-old Monksland earned a return to Grade 1 company when outpointing front-running favourite Marinero in the Ryans Cleaning Chase, middle leg of a superb treble for Noel Meade, in Galway yesterday.