Happy Jacky repeats the feat at Cork 

In Kilbeggan, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Amirite bagged the €100,000 Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National

BATTLE ROYALE: Happy Jacky, left, gets the better of Reverend Hubert to win the RBC Brewin Dolphin Hurdle at Cork on Friday night.  Picture: Healy Racing

The Mark Fahey-trained 11-year-old Happy Jacky, ridden again by 7lb claimer Peter Smithers, repeated last year’s win in the three-mile RBC Brewin Dolphin Hurdle, but only after a protracted duel with market rival Reverend Hubert.

Committed turning out of the back straight by Smithers, the even-money favourite looked in trouble when Reverend Hubert loomed up in the straight but, in typical fashion, Happy Jacky fought back bravely on the run-in to earn the spoils by a head, before being dismounted by Smithers.