Fairyhouse: Ashroe Diamond dazzles and is now favourite for Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham

Ashroe Diamond is the new favourite for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham with Paddy Power at 11-4 (from 4s) after she followed in the footsteps of Laurina, Honeysuckle and Allegorie De Vassy by winning the Awardsandgifts.ie-sponsored Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle.

It was not an easy watch for her backers as Danny Mullins was sitting behind a wall of horses with two to jump on the even-money winner, but she found a passage when it mattered and quickened smartly to beat Jetara by a length and a quarter.

Mullins said: "I knew it was going to be a trappy type of race going out, it had all the earmarks of that on paper. Even walking into the tape, there was a bit of poker face going on. Davy, on Halka Du Tabert, was trying to make it look like he was dropping in, but I knew he wouldn't let it be too slowly run. He went a gallop, stacked the traffic, and in fairness my mare was good when she put down her head."

On her festival prospects, the winning jockey added: "Her previous form to this was very good and she's won a messy race today. It's a good few weeks between now and Cheltenham and she has plenty of time to get over that."

Found A Fifty could be star material

Punters once again had their fingers burned by Parmenion, who was a beaten odds-on favourite in the 2m maiden hurdle, but again he might just have bumped into a potential star.

One-time Derby favourite High Definition beat him at Leopardstown over Christmas and this time it was the Gordon Elliott-trained Found A Fifty who sprinted clear up the home straight to win in the manner of a top prospect for Noel and Valerie Moran.

Winning jockey Davy Russell was impressed and said: "He's got a lot of pace; we really liked him and he jumped really well. Gordon has given him the time to fill into himself as he has a big frame. He likes to run and he was hard on himself there. He jumped great."

Father and son celebrate

The father-and-son combination of Paul and Jack Gilligan teamed up to win the 2m4½f maiden hurdle with Buddy One at 7-1.

The winning trainer said: "It was a super performance and the ride Jack gave him was brilliant. He just left the horse alone and let him jump. He was meant to run over Christmas in a similar race to this at Limerick, but all our horses were sick that week. To come back here and get a winner is fantastic."

Donoghue delivers on Tyre Kicker

Keith Donoghue added another winner to his best season in the saddle thanks to Tyre Kicker in the 3m1½f handicap chase and Gavin Cromwell heaped praise on his winning rider in the colours of local Walterstown clubman Christy Reynolds.

Cromwell said: "Keith gave him a smashing ride. He rode him to get the trip and he jumped really well. We can certainly come back in trip with him. We'll see what the handicapper does and go for something similar again."

Read more:

'It’s a dream, my dream' - French trainer Gabriel Leenders wins Cleeve Hurdle with Gold Tweet 

'Dad would be proud' - Russell dedicates Ahoy Senor's brave Cotswold Chase win to late father Peter 

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