Chiltern gets off the mark

Ruby Walsh delighted a huge crowd at new-look Sligo yesterday when scoring on his only ride, Chiltern Hills, in the featured Kilcawley Construction Sligo Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare, sent off 2/1 favourite, opened her account over hurdles by beating Miss Xian and Girlie’sdream, prompting the six-times champion to comment: “It’s good to win with her. She has struggled to get her head in front. She’s jumping a lot better, which is a big help.”

Alan Crowe emerged with the riding honours, thanks to a double on the Christy Roche-trained Sitcom, a fortunate winner of the opening Irish Stallion Farms Hurdle after longtime leader Dr. Machini fluffed the final flight, and Christy Donoghue’s The Two Jays, which landed the Guinness Handicap Hurdle.