A TOI Phil was a dominant winner of the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park.

A field of five runners went to post for the two and a half mile feature in County Kilkenny, with Balko Des Flos the 11/8 favourite to follow up his victory in the Galway Plate.

Kylecrue took them along for the first half of the contest before Davy Russell sent Balko Des Flos to the lead in the back straight.

His move was covered by Gordon Elliott's 6/1 shot A Toi Phil and last year's winner Ballycasey, trained by Willie Mullins, but the latter eventually dropped away to leave a straight shootout between the Gigginstown House Stud-owned pair.

A Toi Phil asserted between the final two fences under Jack Kennedy and after pinging the last, he careered away to score by an emphatic six and a half lengths.

Kennedy said: "He travelled and jumped brilliantly. His jumping is a big help - he's very accurate. He's very tough and stays going. He's done it well."

Balko Des Flos was a clear second ahead of Ballycasey in third. Galway Plate runner-up Shaneshill was a big disappointment, finishing a long way behind and beating only Kylecrue home.

TOP HONOURS

Kilcarry Bridge benefited from an enterprising Danny Mullins ride to claim top honours in the Kilkenny Racing Festival Handicap Hurdle.

John Ryan's 16/1 chance did it the hard way from the front, and he and Without Limites established a big advantage over the rest of the field a long way out.

As Without Limites folded, High Nellie emerged as the chief danger, but Kilcarry Bridge was in no mood to be passed and ran right the way to the line to cross it with 10 lengths in hand.

Ryan said: "I couldn't believe the price he was. He's (rated) 138 over fences and 117 over hurdles, and he's better over hurdles.

"He stays three miles all day and won his point-to-point first time out, so distance is no problem. He was good. It's a nice prize and hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him."

The application of a hood did the trick for Alletrix in the Tattersalls Ireland Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

Jessica Harrington's 10/1 chance made headway to hit the front before the second-last and Robbie Power kept her up to her work to see off Cluan Dara by four and a half lengths.

Harrington said: "The ground was bottomless in Listowel but she has come on a hell of lot from that run, and needed two and a half miles. She also was getting all the allowances today. She is a very slick jumper and it doesn't matter if she is in close or not.

"It's great that Sally (Rowley-Williams, owner) is here, and she will head into mares' races."

High School Days (7/1) made a successful first foray outside of maiden company in the Thomastown Handicap Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead's filly took it up two out and although Dixie Highway went in pursuit, High School Days kept to her task well under Donal McInerney to score by one and three-quarter lengths.

CHASING DEBUT

Tout Est Permis outbattled Brelade to make a successful start over fences in the Join Our Racing Club Beginners Chase.

Mouse Morris' grey was only rated 112 over the smaller obstacles and, although he was getting 10lb from Brelade, the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old was twice placed in Grade 1 company as a novice hurdler and was sent off the 11/8 favourite.

His year-younger rival was a worthy adversary, though, and with the pair locked together coming down to the last, Tout Est Permis (8/1) found that little bit extra to score by six lengths.

Experience told in the Golf Memberships 2018 From 500 3-Y-O Hurdle as Masterstonemason came good at the fifth attempt over obstacles.

Flan Costello's 9/4 chance has improved between each of his four timber starts and fought well to fend off Foxy Lass by a length and a quarter.

Apparition was the odds-on favourite but after travelling well into contention, found less than expected in the straight and had to settle for third.

Winning jockey Rachael Blackmore said: "It was a good performance so we are delighted with him. He has taken to hurdling really well and, on his form, he was entitled to be in the shake-up today."

Kevin Brouder enjoyed the third victory of his career, and second this week, when getting Deputy's Pass up in the Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel Handicap Chase.

The young claimer proved his strength in the saddle as the 5/1 shot denied the rallying Twiss's Hill by a head.

READ THE FULL GOWRAN PARK REPORT IN NEXT WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD