Dressedtothenines completes hat-trick at Fairyhouse

Dressedtothenines took a step up in class in her stride by completing a hat-trick in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Eddie Harty's talented mare was a 9-4 chance following triumphs at Punchestown and Naas and was positioned on the heels of leader Si C'Etait Vrai for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey.

Dressedtothenines took over the running soon after the turn for home, still travelling sweetly in the hands of Tony McCoy.

Zaidpour, the 6-4 favourite, came with a serious challenge between the final two flights, but Dressedtothenines dug deep to see him off and take the Grade Two prize by three and a half lengths.

Prior to her first win of the season at Punchestown, Dressedtothenines chased home Annie Power, who was hugely impressive in the Grade One mares' hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday, at Clonmel.

Harty said: "She's an improving mare and is getting better as the year has gone on. I knew she was decent last year, but she is progressing well. Obviously Willie Mullins' mare at Clonmel (Annie Power) is a hell of a mare, but she's (Dressedtothenines) the first mare to put it up to her for a few strides.

"It shows you how good Annie Power is. It's great to get big black type with our mare and I'm delighted. She's done well for us winning three on the bounce including a Grade Two. She's only a young mare and we've all next season to look forward to. We'll discuss things, but going over fences might be an option."

Pique Sous (11/4) wasn't the shortest of the two Willie Mullins' trained runners in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle at Fairhouse but that didn't prevent him from picking up the Grade Two prize.

Tennis Cap, runner-up in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the choice of Ruby Walsh, headed the market and adopted his customary front-running tactics.

He was soon back pedalling having turned for home as Cops And Robbers took over at the head of affairs.

It momentarily looked as though Noel Meade's runner would see off the challenges of Sizing Rio and Pique Sous after being hardpressed but Paul Townend got his runner back on an even keel after the last and the pair eventually won a shade cosily.

Pique Sous had had very little racing this winter due to the testing ground and could only finish in midfield in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham on his preceding start but appreciated the drying conditions to gain a second success over hurdles.

Brian Who, trained and owned by Eddie Cawley, claimed top honours in the Irish Field Handicap Hurdle.

Mark Enright settled the 13-2 shot in the middle of the pack before making smooth headway to take closer order rounding the home turn.

Frontrunning 33-1 outsider Happy New Year did his best to resist, but Brian Who quickened up well to take the lead between the final two obstacles and safely negotiated the last to seal a four-and-a-quarter-length win.

Cawley said: “He’s been very consistent and we thought with a little bit better ground he could deliver. Mark gave him a peach of a ride and switched him off out the back. I knew turning in he was going to be hard to beat. He might go to Punchestown for the two-and-a-half-mile amateur (riders) race.”