Dream return for Isle

Ruby Walsh had an armchair ride on his only mount at Thurles yesterday - the long absent Isleofhopendreams which coasted to a smooth odds-on success in the Killinan Handicap Hurdle.

Formerly trained in England by Henrietta Knight, the seven-year-old, now in the care of champion trainer Willie Mullins, was racing for the first time since April 2012 and came from off the pace under a confident ride to readily brush aside the challenge of West Of The Edge, which he beat by ten lengths

Walsh, back from a flying visit to London and whose only other booked ride Chute Hall was a non-runner, commented: “He settled and travelled well and coped with the ground better than the others. They went quick enough for that grade of horse and I took my time.”