“My first thoughts are with John Thomas McNamara”, said Michael Winters, after his Missunited got the best of a terrific battle with Twigline in the Grade 3 Kerry Group EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

The highly-regarded Rule The World coasted to an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle in Naas yesterday as 1/4 favourite Champagne Fever flopped badly, trailing in a distant third before being found to have “a respiratory tract infection”.

Unplaced in both the Irish and English Oaks and taking a significant drop in class, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Twirl made all to land the listed Hurry Harriet Stakes in Gowran Park yesterday, beating stable-companion Soon by a length and a half.

Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden continued in top form when completing a 146/1 double on Definite Ridge and Namarama in Downpatrick yesterday.

Paul Carberry received a timely pre-Cheltenham boost when guiding Oscar Hill to an easy win in the Roadhouse Pun Novice Handicap Hurdle in Downpatrick yesterday, first leg of a double for trainer Gordon Elliott, completed when Carberry’s sister Nina partnered Spring Lane to an odds-on win in the bumper.

THE improving Charlie’s Vic gets the nod in the five-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Downpatrick this afternoon.

Cousin Vinny defied a 22-month absence, caused by a tendon injury, when justifying odds-on favouritism in the opening Festival Free Upgrade Offer Ends Today Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

BUY BACK BOB can send punters home from the Listowel festival this afternoon on the perfect note by landing the M J Carroll ARRO Maiden Hurdle.

A trip to Britain, probably Perth next month, is on the cards for Esporao following his all-the-way win in the opening Down District Council Ladies Day At Downpatrick Maiden Hurdle on the Co Down track yesterday.

THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Days Hotel stormed away with the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

ANDREW McNamara doubled-up on Equation and her former stable-companion Fearnwood Girl in last night’s maiden hurdle action in Sligo.