Lingo emerged as a potential Smurfit Champion Hurdle contender after making a brilliant return to the racecourse on the final day of the Open meeting at Cheltenham.

JOHNNY EGAN made a successful first visit to Cork Racecourse yesterday when guiding Slip Dance to a smooth victory in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Race.

DERMOT WELD’S Queen Astrid stormed into Cheltenham Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle contention with a 20 lengths success in the Murray O’Laoire Architects’ Mares Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

HIGH PRIESTESS, who goes up 14lbs in future handicaps, toyed with the opposition on the way to landing the Guinness Gold Cup at Tralee yesterday.