Dinoblue on top in Opera Hat thriller

Dinoblue came out on top after locking horns with stablemate Allegorie De Vassy in the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas.

Both horses are trained by Willie Mullins and were joined by only one further rival as Thomas Gibney’s Must Be Obeyed completed the trio for the Listed event.

Allegorie De Vassy was the 5-6 favourite and Dinoblue an 11-10 chance, but it was the latter mare who took first place in a battle to the line.

The outsider was beaten when the first two home began to race, and they were split by the width of the track as they took the last obstacle almost in unison.

Dinoblue landed marginally in front, however, and stuck to the task under Mark Walsh to remain in the lead by neck at the line.

Mullins said: “The two of them went a great gallop the whole way. There was no hiding place even though there was only the two of them involved.

“They will both go for the (Mrs Paddy Power) Mares Chase at Cheltenham and I’m very happy with both of them.”

Eternal Echo (16-5) outpointed fellow Gordon Elliott inmate Apples Jane to win the Christopher Dunne Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Apples Jane attracted plenty of attention before her racecourse bow as the first progeny of the 11-times Grade One-winning mare Apple’s Jade and she raced quite keenly off a slow early pace before striking for home.

Eternal Echo was travelling well in behind though and when given the signal he quickly grabbed the lead, only for Apples Jane to rally on his inside but ultimately fall three-quarters of a length short at the line.

“He’s a nice horse and shows a bit of pace at home,” Elliott said of the winner.

“It’s great to get the support from Maurice Regan (Newtown Anner Stud) and he’s a horse that could definitely go back and win on the Flat. He could be a dual-purpose horse.

“I thought she (Apples Jane) showed a good attitude as well. They didn’t go that fast and she’s picked up and galloped.”

Lovely Hurling (9-4 joint favourite) won a dramatic Cavan Developments Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained Road To Home looked to be tracking a winning path on the rails but he ran off on the inside of the track and jumped a marker barrier, forcing jockey Brian Hayes to pull up.