Dollars grabs Bobbjo Chase

Racing:   Afistfullofdollars confirmed Noel Meade's team are well and truly back in business by grabbing the feature race at…

Racing:  Afistfullofdollars confirmed Noel Meade's team are well and truly back in business by grabbing the feature race at Fairyhouse.

Meade had been winless for seven weeks until enjoying a double at Punchestown on Wednesday, and it is now business as usual thanks to the victory of Afistfullofdollars (6-1) in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase.

One Cool Cookie made the running until Paul Carberry pushed Afistfullofdollars into the lead four out.

However, the leader had to survive a mistake at the third-last fence before going on to win by six lengths from the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter.

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The latter's stablemate Snowy Morning, the 4-6 favourite, never got into contention but ran on close home to take third from One Cool Cookie.

Meade said: "I don't know whether laugh or cry. He's not in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and handicaps have gone out of the window now.

"He'll be too high in the weights but he might go for the Betfair Bowl at Aintree. The track should suit him and all being well he will go on to Punchestown.

"I hope he's sound after this. He's had a lot of problems and has broken more bones than Paul Carberry. He's always been good and he jumped great."

Hedgehunter boosted his prospects for a second John Smith's Grand National triumph and was trimmed to 25-1 from 33-1 with Paddy Power. The same firm eased Snowy Morning from 10-1 out to 12-1 for the Aintree spectacular and cut Cloudy Lane to 10-1 clear favourite.

William Hill cut Hedgehunter to 20-1 from 40s while Snowy Morning is out to 16-1 from 10-1.

Beau Michael ran his rivals into the ground to take the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle.

Davy Russell set a sensible pace on the four-year-old and had enough in the tank to see off Silverhand.

A mistake at the final flight cost Carberry's mount and Beau Michael, the 6-4 favourite, trained by Adrian McGuinness went on to win by three lengths.

Hills cut Beau Michael to 14-1 from 20-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with totesport going 16-1 from 25.

McGuinness was absent but David Corr, spokesman for owners the Total Recall Racing Club, said: "We're delighted with that. He's done very well and the Triumph Hurdle is the plan.

"We'll speak to the trainer before making a decision, but he won't run if the the ground is firm."

Jessica Harrington had a 591/2-1 double with Chasing Cars (9-2) in the Friends of Sligo GAA Maiden Hurdle (Division Two) and Western Gale (10-1) in the Replay at www.attheraces.comHandicap Hurdle.