RACING DIGEST: JUMBO RIO was rewarded for two valiant efforts in France with success in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary yesterday.

Edward O’Grady’s charge was runner-up in two valuable races at Auteuil after taking the champion four-year-old hurdle at Punchestown.

Ebaziyan made the early running while Andrew McNamara had the 11 to 8 favourite covered up in midfield, until he began to make his move four out.

Jumbo Rio jumped into the lead at the second-last but was all out to hold Cuan Na Grai, who rallied strongly on the run-in, by a head.

Fosters Cross was two-and-a- half lengths away in third.

“He is a very tough horse. He’ll probably go for a flat race next before going back to Auteuil in November,” said O’Grady.

“It took him 40 hours to get to France last time and he still put in a good performance, which just shows how tough he is.”

* Ainegot up close home to deny Snaefell in a thrilling finish to the Belgrave Stakes at Fairyhouse.

Wayne Lordan brought Tommy Stack’s filly with a telling late surge to pip Snaefell by a neck.

Michael Halford’s grey looked destined to take the Listed race when he hit the front a furlong out, but the pack charged in and it was Aine (12 to 1) who found the best turn of foot to score. Georgebernardshaw was third.

* Timmy Murphyinjured a shoulder in a fall in the Clovelly Lifeboat Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Newton Abbot.

The jump jockey was unseated from the David Elsworth-trained Highland River at the first flight.

He was treated on the ground before being taken to Torbay General Hospital for X-rays.

The race was won by the 4 to 7 favourite Fongoli, who made all the running under Tony McCoy.

* Paul Nichollsplans to be double-handed with Hoo La Baloo and Roby De Cimbre in the William Hill Galway Plate on Wednesday week.

Hoo La Baloo has run in the big handicap chase at the Ballybrit track for the last two years without success, while Roby De Cimbre, a grey gelding owned by Terry Warner, has had the race as a long-term target.

“We are planning to run two at the moment, Hoo La Baloo and Roby De Cimbre,” Nicholls, who won the race last year with Oslot, said. “We have trained him (Roby De Cimbre) for the race. He won the same novice chase at Newton Abbot that Oslot won en route to it last year.

“He just wants fast ground – I’d like to see a dry week.

“Hoo La Baloo loves going right-handed and has run well in the race before. He was disappointing in the Betfred at the end of last season and, with his handicap mark, is hard to place.

“It’s very much a watching brief with him at the moment.”