Mossbank setback one of three quick reverses for Hourigan

MICHAEL HOURIGAN went through an agonising twenty minutes or so at Cork on Saturday.

Firstly, he watched Beef Or Salmon run a gallant race in defeat in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, then saw Mossbank lose his unbeaten tag over flights in the Eagle Star EBF Novice Hurdle at Cork and finally his Kerryhead Windfarm went down narrowly to Slim Pickings at Punchestown.

Mossbank had looked a star in the making at Limerick and Fairyhouse previously, but was outgunned by Charles Byrnes' Laetitia in the closing stages. The odds-on chance led coming away from the third last, but never looked like surging clear, as Davy Russell produced the winner from way off the pace.