THE Sun Alliance Hurdle at Cheltenham in a little over 10 weeks' time, following just one more run at home, is the plan laid out by trainer Michael Morris for Boss Doyle, the impressive winner of the Cashel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.
A well backed 4 to 9 favourite, Boss Doyle made every yard of the running under Charlie Swan and was clear before the penultimate flight to beat recent Limerick bumper winner Irvine by a comfortable four and a half lengths.
Another sure to improve, as she had suffered a recent illness, is Denny Hurdle fifth Miss Pennyhill, who scored a two-lengths victory in the Killinan Hurdle. The 3 to 1 second favourite arrived full of running to tackle the always prominent Go Sasha before the final flight, but had to dig deep on the run in to win for owner-trainer Aytach Sadik.
Willie Mullins took the day's training honours with a double, landing the Holiday Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (Div 1) with Rock'n Roll Kid, well ridden by Pat Morris, and the INH Novice Hurdle Series with Three Scholars, partnered by David Casey.
Dark Swan did not go unbacked when winning the second division of the Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, the 8 to 1 chance giving his rider, David Flood, his first success.
