Joint-favourite Waxies Dargle, ridden for Noel Meade by Paul Townend, ploughed through the softening ground to land the €50,000 Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle, feature on the opening day of Killarney’s May meeting.

Odds-on favourites Alelchi Inois and Most Peculiar provided champion trainer Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with a double in Galway last night.

Willie Mullins’ Indevan easily reversed previous Kilbeggan form with Bally Longford in the Benchmark Hospitality Novice Chase at rain-swept Killarney last night.

A FIVE-TIME winner on the flat, Leah Claire belatedly opened her account over hurdles when turning over odds-on favourite Ceol Rua in the Saltees Island Mares Novice Hurdle in Wexford yesterday.

Groody Hill capped a red-letter day for owner JP McManus with a last-gasp victory in the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.