Fitz in line for Galway Hurdle, penalty permitting

Rebel Fitz and Davy Russell denied Captain Cee Bee back-to-back wins in the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle in Tipperary yesterday.

Mick Winters’ stable star edged ahead between the last two flights and kept going well to triumph by a length and a half, with The Real Article, narrowly beaten in controversial circumstances last year, seven lengths adrift in third spot.

A delighted Winters said: “This was a great race to win and has been the plan since he won on the flat in Clonmel. He keeps improving and stayed fairly calm today — we left Island Wood stand in the stable with him, which helped.