RACING THURLES REPORT:PSYCHO BOUNCED back to form with victory in the Beamish Stout Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Tony Martin’s talented 10-year-old was pulled up following a series of jumping errors when a leading fancy for last month’s AP Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

But pitched against just three rivals in this Grade Three event, the 5 to 2 chance was always travelling strongly for Paul Carberry.

Let Yourself Go cut out much of the running, but was a spent force halfway up the straight and Psycho soon eased to the front.

Quiscover Fontaine went in pursuit after the final fence on his first start of the campaign, but was still two and a half lengths behind at the line. The other runner, Clan Tara, took a heavy fall at the halfway stage.

Martin said: “He was unlucky at Cheltenham. He landed on top of the fifth fence and it was goodnight then.

“You can put a line through that and he schooled since at Naas under Carberry and went well.

“He jumped brilliantly and he couldn’t have done it any better.

“He’s been an unlucky horse and I’d suppose I’ll stick him in a few races at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse and we’ll see what happens in the meantime.”

Meanwhile, Luska Lad could set up a crack at Big Buck’s with a good run in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on January 20th.

Trainer John Hanlon is keen to head to Cheltenham for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle if the durable seven-year-old can prove his stamina over three miles.

Luska Lad finished only two lengths behind Hurricane Fly in the Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown and then narrowly failed to carry a huge weight to victory at Punchestown just two days later.

“He’s a star. He gives everything everyday,” said Hanlon.

“He was going up a good bit in the handicap so I thought we’d take 7lb off him and he was unlucky as he pecked at the last at Punchestown.

“He was beaten in the last stride. He’s as tough as nails but he’s come out of it well and we’ll probably go for the three-mile Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran.

“I only ran him over two-and-a-half once before the other day but he got that well and I was talking to Davy Russell who said the further he goes the better he’ll be.

“I don’t want to take on Solwhit and Hurricane Fly again so I don’t have many options. It could be a good opportunity for him.

“The reason I want to go down this route is because I want to go for one of the staying races with him at Cheltenham.

“He has no problem going left-handed now. He had a bit of work done on him and he ran the best race of his life against Hurricane Fly the other day going that way.”

The Irish challenge for Saturday’s Coral Welsh National has been severely depleted with Becauseicouldntsee being ruled out as trainer Noel Glynn is keen to save his charge for a tilt at the Grand National at Aintree in April and compatriot Lochan Lacha a “doubtful” runner as he is not guaranteed a place in the final field.