Puzzle solves Fairyhouse conundrum

Bitofapuzzle clinched Grade One glory for Harry Fry and Noel Fehily with an impressive display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse.

The seven-year-old was the 3-1 favourite on the strength of her third placed finish in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month and was ridden positively throughout the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

She showed a smart change of gear to put distance between her rivals, and though it was hard work in the testing conditions in the straight, leading to some scrappy leaps at the remaining flights, Bitofapuzzle had the race in safe-keeping and galloped four and a quarter lengths clear for a resounding victory.

Willie Mullins, who had saddled the winner of this race for the last two years, was responsible for the second, third and fourth, with Petite Parisienne leading home stable companions Lyrical Theatre and Uranna.

Fry said: "She's been a star for us this season and they went a real gallop from the start.

"The conditions suited her and Noel pressed on from a long way out as she's a three-miler, really.

"She's as hard as nails and keeps improving.

"You never really know until you come here whether it's a race too far or not, but full credit to her as she's had a number of hard races this season.

"She'll have a proper break now, she's earned it and more.

"She's made for fences and will go chasing in the autumn."

Earlier, Joseph O'Brien suffered a dramatic final-flight exit from Marchese Marconi as Tony McCoy clinched victory aboard Sir Scorpion in the Gleesons Butchers Novice Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

O'Brien missed the start of the new Irish Flat season at the Curragh last Sunday, instead riding over hurdles for the first time at Limerick, and was having his second outing over jumps at the County Meath circuit.

Marchese Marconi, trained by the jockey's father, Aidan O'Brien, and owned by JP McManus, was ridden prominently throughout and still held a narrow advantage when he made a mistake at the last and unseated his rider.

Sir Scorpion, carrying the first colours of McManus and trained by Tom Mullins, was the 6-4 favourite following victory at Leopardstown at the end of February and toughed it out on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter from Lilshane.

O'Brien walked away seemingly none the worse from the fall, while McCoy, whose appearance at the Easter Festival looks set to be his last as a jockey in Ireland, received a rousing reception upon his return to the winner's enclosure.

Ted Walsh interviews AP McCoy

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