Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

RACING - THURLES REPORT:TRIUMPH HURDLE third Mourad was relegated to the runner-up spot as Chicago Grey gained a narrow success in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles.

Willie Mullins’s representative was sent off at 4 to 11 to get off the mark for the campaign under Ruby Walsh and all appeared to be going to plan when he cruised to the lead after jumping the fourth-last. However, Gordon Elliott’s Chicago Grey (4 to 1) went in pursuit in the home straight and with very little to chose between them at the final obstacle, it was Chicago Grey who got away from it the quicker and edged out the market-leader by a head under Alain Cawley, whose run of big-race success was continuing for the third weekend in a row following Joncol and Shinrock Paddy.