Maestro Mik swoops in Ballymore

Mikael D’Haguenet stayed on strongly in the hands of Ruby Walsh to take top honours in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 5-2 favourite travelled and jumped superbly throughout under Walsh and came to challenge for the lead running down to the second-last.

Despite being badly impeded by the wandering Diamond Harry, the Willie Mullins inmate soon came back on the bridle.

He then kicked on in the straight to score by a length and three-quarters from the staying-on Karabak, with Diamond Harry third.