Odds-on punters had plenty to get their teeth into at Thurles yesterday where Jason Titley partnered a short-priced double in John Magical and Aonfocaleile.

John Magical was sent off at 9 to 2 on for the featured Irish National Hunt Novice Hurdle Series, and Titley made brave backers sweat by waiting until after the last before asking his mount to quicken. The five-year-old did not find as much as expected and was driven out to beat Tarasi by half a length, with Pateley close up in third.

The Clare rider moved onto the 35 winner mark for the season when Aonfocaleile landed a gamble in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle. The Edward O'Grady-trained gelding, supported from 6 to 4 to 4 to 6, was far from fluent on his debut over timber to beat Hillcrest Manor by a workmanlike three and a half lengths. O'Grady later completed his own double in the bumper when the heavily-backed Endless Magic gained a cosy success under Philip Fenton.

Native Estates was another short-priced favourite who needed to dig deep before he landed the Heineken Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase. Paul Carberry's mount and Janiste were in the air together at the last, with the 1 to 4 chance getting on top in the final 50 yards to score by a length and a half. "He is lazy, and it is not his cup of tea making the running," said Meade, who nominated the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park later this month as a likely target.

A gamble came unstuck in the opening Thurles Handicap Chase where Whim Creek, available at 12 to 1 in the morning and backed down to 3 to 1 second favourite, found top-weight Call Me Dara two and a half lengths too good. However, his Co Waterford trainer Paul Lenihan gained compensation later on when Reiska Bannager went one better in the Holiday Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Conditional jockey JP McNamara landed a near 68 to 1 treble on Andy's Lad (Wakefield Novices' Chase), Boyzontoowa (Ilkley Handicap Chase) and Wintertide (Huddersfield Standard National Hunt Flat race).

Boyzontoowa was a chance ride for McNamara, as Wilf Storey's eight-year-old was due to be partnered by Lorcan Wyer, who was injured earlier.