Hill on top in farcical affair

EXCITING novices Sweeps Hill and Some Present were involved in a farcical, cat-and-mouse battle for the four-runner Tote Sports Lounge Novice Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Victory went to the John Kiely-trained Sweeps Hill, ridden for J P McManus by his retained jockey Tony McCoy. But the four-runner affair proved unsatisfactory.

Davy Russell, on 4/5 favourite Some Present, opted to dictate the pace. But his mount was hesitant at the first before virtually stalling and apparently looking for a way out at the second.