Seabass turns back clock with easy success

With only one winning favourite on the seven-race programme, bookmakers got an early Christmas present at Thurles, where 20-1 chance Seabass turned back the clock when running away with the David O’Halloran Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle in the hands of Katie Walsh.

Ridden prominently, the 12-year-old, who finished third behind Neptune Collonges in the 2012 Aintree Grand, travelled best all the way and didn’t have to be hard ridden to go clear in the closing stages.

An emotional winning trainer, Ted Walsh, said: “I wasn’t expecting that, but he was great, and I was delighted with him. He’s just a classy auld horse, and you can’t take that away from him.