Ballychorus booked her ticket for the Cheltenham Festival with a confidence-boosting victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.

Trained by Mags Mullins, the seven-year-old had rattled off a sequence before two unfortunate mishaps.

She fell when still just in front in the Troytown at the last and also suffered a final-fence exit when holding every chance in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas.

Sent off the 2-5 favourite to beat three rivals, she just needed to be pushed out by Adrian Heskin to eventually beat Emcon by nine lengths.

"I'm delighted with the clear round and she was good. It's great to get her confidence back as they don't always come back from falls," said Mullins.

"We're thinking of the four-miler at Cheltenham (National Hunt Chase) and she deserves a shot at it now. I also think she'll be much better on better ground and loved the summer ground last year.

"She was always going well today."

Burgas proved a class apart from the opposition in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle.

The 4-6 favourite raced prominently and careered nine and a half lengths way from Mr Antolini, looking yet another exciting French recruit for Willie Mullins.

Kayf Supreme continued the excellent form of the Jim Dreaper yard with a bloodless success in the Ballycahill Beginners Chase.

The 2-11 market leader cut out much of his own running and wasn't hard pressed to see off Kansas City Chief by 17 lengths, giving Dreaper his fourth winner from his last four runners.

Dreaper had another good chance with Sizinguptheamazon in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle, but he could only manage a one-paced third behind 8-11 favourite Road To Respect.

Milanesque was bidding to supplement his recent course victory in the Rock Of Cashel Handicap Chase but looked held in second when coming down at the last, allowing Garrai Phaidin to cross the line 16 lengths in front of Notification.

READ CLAIRE BARRY'S FULL THURLES REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND