STAMINA won the day for A Genie In Abottle as he claimed the honours in the Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase at Wexford.

Disappointing when favourite for Cheltenham's National Hunt Chase, won by the reopposing Tiger Roll, but successful on his Galway return, Noel Meade's 1/2 favourite was allowed an uncontested lead under Sean Flanagan.

He needed to be niggled along from some way out and no more than a length separated four of the five runners as they jumped the last, but A Genie In Abottle stays strongly and responded well to Flanagan's urgings to pull a length and a half clear of Tiger Roll.

Flanagan said: "He is a funny auld sort, he always holds on to a little bit. He is not ungenuine, he is just a leery fella.

"We were worried there wasn't going to be a lot of pace, similar to the last day he ran. You can be forceful away on him because he is never going to do too much.

"The boys joined me jumping the third-last and they kind of shoved me along. I always had plenty left.

"We were a bit disappointed after he was beaten when favourite in the four-miler at Cheltenham. But, funnily enough, he just mightn't stay four miles. He is a backward sort of lad and we can't knock him yet anyway."

Dinaria Des Obeaux denied Le Martalin in a thrilling finish to the IRIS First For Racing Footage In Ireland Beginners Chase.

Le Martalin, the 6/4 favourite, saw off Mr Champers for the early lead and a good round of jumping appeared to have his rivals on the stretch leaving the back straight.

Jack Kennedy urged Dinaria Des Obeaux to take closer order and the 2/1 chance, a Grade 3-winning juvenile hurdler last season, responded to make her challenge.

The two Gigginstown House Stud representatives touched down over the last in a share of the lead but Gordon Elliott's filly, who was in receipt of 16lb from Le Martalin, pulled out that little bit extra to prevail by a neck.

Kennedy said: "We flew around and I was going as fast as I could the whole way. She stayed going and stuck at it well. She probably wants a bit further.

"She couldn't have done much more there now, she was very tough and kept at it. She jumped brilliant and has loads of scope. There is no issue with jumping anyway."

READ THE FULL WEXFORD REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD