SHANPALLAS worked hard to justify strong market support in the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe.

Rated considerably lower in this sphere than he is over fences, and arriving on the back of a good fifth at the Punchestown Festival, the Charles Byrnes representative was backed down to 11-8 favouritism.

Barry Geraghty momentarily looked in need for a run approaching the home turn but a split came and Shanpallas went through it before repelling the rallying Cliff House by half a length.

Byrnes said: "It was a lovely pot to win - fair play to Ballinrobe.

"He ran well in Punchestown the last day and he is a summer horse. It would be ideal if we could get something similar for him before Galway, but I haven't really looked at the calendar.

"Galway is the plan, whether it is the Plate or not I'm not sure yet. They kind of have the measure of him over fences but to get into the Plate he wouldn't want to be rated much lower.

"He ran well in the Plate last year, he was fifth, and he is entitled to have another crack at it. Rule The World done him no favours in it."

Bitview Colin sprung a 25-1 surprise in the McHale Fusion 3 Rated Novice Hurdle.

Just five days on from his much-improved third at Tipperary, John Ryan's gelding proved that was no fluke when denying Delegate by half a length.

The stewards looked into possible interference on the run to the line but decided that the placings should remain unaltered.

Point-to-point winner Carrig Cathal had looked slightly one-paced in a couple of bumpers but showed his appreciation for tackling obstacles and the rise to two and a half miles by landing the McHale F5500 Baler Maiden Hurdle.

Jack Kennedy, who only rode out his claim here on Monday, sent the 8-1 chance on from the well-backed Bright Tomorrow before the last and he stayed on for a 12-length call.

CHASING DEBUT

Class told in Ballinrobe's McHale Fusion 3 Plus Beginners Chase as 5-2 joint-favourite Tiger Roll made a successful start to his career over fences.

The 2014 Triumph Hurdle hero hadn't managed to get his head in front since October of that year and was pulled up in a handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on his previous outing.

He jumped well enough and although striking a bit of trouble nearing the end of the back straight, he recovered in time to take up the running before the last and strode eight lengths away from Buster Dan Dan to give Jack Kennedy a double following the earlier success of Carrig Cathal.

Gordon Elliott is responsible for both Tiger Roll and Carrig Cathal, and said: "Going back to the Triumph Hurdle win, he was the class horse in the race.

"He hasn't been easy to train, we've had a lot of problems with him. It's nice to see him get his head in front again and Jack gave him a good ride.

"There is a good programme for him and I'd say he can even go further than that. There is plenty of options for him during the summer. The fences might spark him up but he has been disappointing since winning the Triumph."

Just Likeold Times doesn't have many miles on the clock for an eight-year-old and broke his duck in the McHale Fusion Vario Handicap Hurdle.

The 9-2 shot set sail for home at the penultimate flight and try as Whispering Hope might, he could only get within a length and a half at the line.

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