Although for much of the final mile it looked an unlikely success, Tin Soldier followed up his Fairyhouse success with a hard-fought victory in the Grade 3 At The Races Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle on a wintry afternoon in Thurles.

Barry Geraghty recorded his first four-timer in Ireland when stepping in for two winning spare rides for the irrepressible yard of Gordon Elliott and adding one each for Joseph O’Brien and Eric McNamara yesterday afternoon at his local track, in Fairyhouse.