Walsh lands Leopardstown Hurdle

Racing:   Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins teamed up to capture the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown with…

Racing:  Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins teamed up to capture the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown with the well-backed Shakervilz.

Weight of money forced the five-year-old down to his starting price of 100-30 and he rewarded supporters as Walsh galvanised him going to the final flight to emerge on top by a length from Stewarts House.

Mullins said: "I am delighted as that looked a fairly hot maiden hurdle.

"We'll go down the Fairyhouse and Punchestown route with him and he'll be running over at least two and half miles."

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Tony Martin denied the same trainer-jockey combination a double as Save The Bacon ran out a tasty winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Walsh gave chase on 13-8 favourite Our Matti but his efforts were in vain as Martin's 11-2 chance had burst clear and went on to score by an unchallenged six lengths.

Martin said: "He has always been a nice horse but had problems early on and we have given him time.

"Paul Carberry is magic on those keen, free-going horses and gets them to switch off.

"We'll take him to Fairyhouse over Easter now and he'll make up into a great chaser next year."

River Liane produced a spine-tingling performance in the Madigans Hurdle to further enhance Tom Cooper's Cheltenham Festival prospects.

The Tralee trainer is already responsible for leading Ballymore Properties Hurdle candidate Forpadydeplasterer and boosted his squad as the French import hosed up on his first start outside his native land.

The 5-1 winner pulled his way into the race rounding the final turn and effortlessly went clear to deny Made In Taipan by five and a half lengths.

Cooper now plans to send the youngster for the Fred Winter, for which he picks up a 4lb penalty taking his weight to 10st 6lb.

He said: "He came to me about Christmas time. I went to France to look at him and when I rode and schooled him I was very impressed.

"When I bought him back he was very weak and backward and was like a rat.

"He is a good horse though and he gets into the Fred Winter with a penalty so that's where he will go if he's OK after this."

Totesport slashed the winner into 8-1 from 33s for the Fred Winter, with William Hill 10-1 from the same price.