7-14; Irish raiders grab half the spoils in concerted attack.

Byline: Colin Russell 

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES, who normally calls the shots at this two-day fixture, had a frustrating time of it with seven seconds, but he foiled what would have been Ireland's eighth winner of the meeting when the gallant Billie Magern took the 3m novice hurdle.

Success looked unlikely going to the second-last, though, for Talkin' Touch was four lengths clear and still going well.

However, the winner comes from a tough family, and under a fine ride from Tom Molloy he got up after the last to win by a neck.

"He's a brother to Ollie Magern, and you wouldn't get a tougher family. He's not very big, but he's as big as his brother and though he'll stick to hurdling this season, he'll then go chasing," said Twiston-Davies, who trains him for Roger Nicholls.

Half an hour earlier Twiston-Davies had to settle for second when the well-backed Diablo was beaten three and a quarter lengths by Mhilu, trained by Gordon Elliott for the Dream On Boys Again syndicate and ridden Jason Maguire, in the 2m4f novice chase.

"Jason said there was no pace, so he decided to let him bowl along. He did it well and we'll look for another race for him in a few weeks' time," said the winning trainer, who notched a double the previous day.

Elliott, who is the course's leading trainer in recent years, completed a double when McMurdo Sound, who runs in the colours of Norman Williamson's wife Janet, followed up his Sedgefield win by taking the 2m handicap hurdle.

He was ridden by Keith Donoghue, who was partnering his second winner under rules.

Elliott said: "Keith only turned 16 a couple of weeks ago, and this was his second winner. He rode 150 winners pony racing, and is a very good lad."

The chances of McMurdo Sound were made more obvious earlier in the afternoon when the horse he beat at Sedgefield, Mesbaah, landed the opening novice hurdle.

Trained by Richard Fahey, he was giving Brian Hughes his first winner since breaking a collar bone in a nasty fall at Sedgefield last month.

Hughes said: "This horse lost his way a bit on the Flat, but he settled well today, although in the end I got there a bit too soon."

The riding performance of the day was by Graham Lee in the three-runner 2m handicap chase. In a strongly run affair, he was detached in last most of the race on The Dukes Speech, but brought him through to lead after the last and win by a three-quarters of a length.

"That was a great ride. This horse needs confidence and Graham just let him find his stride. He didn't rush him," said trainer Ferdy Murphy.

Kilkenny-based Seamus O'Farrell had his first winner on the course when A Little Different, ridden by his son Connor, won the 2m4f handicap hurdle. For good measure, he also trained the third home, No More Prisoners.

Flaygray won the bumper under Richard McGrath for trainer Chris Grant.

Star performances Graham Lee for his fine, no-panic ride on The Dukes Speech, and Tom Molloy for his ride on Billie Magern ne for the future Keith Donoghue, who has only just turned 16, but rode his second winner under rules on McMurdo Sound to go with his 150 successes in pony racing There was an eye-catching display from an unplaced horse in the opener. Results and analysis, page 89

CAPTION(S):

From above left: Keith Donoghue is the centre of attention after winning aboard McMurdo Sound; Mhilu takes the water jump before winning the novice chase for Gordon Elliott and Jason maguire (above)