Sunday 20 November 2016 16:20, UK
The rest of the news from Punchestown, where Dalmatia loomed out of a thick winter fog to win the opening contest.
Dalmatia emerged from the thick Punchestown fog to win the Total Event Rental Handicap Hurdle for trainer Eddie Harty.
Mark Enright was keen to get an early lead on the former Sir Michael Stoute-trained mare, who used to be owned by the Queen.
Viewing conditions were so bad it was impossible to see a great deal, but the nearly-white Dalmatia (10/1) emerged from the gloom still in front approaching the last and held off Solita by half a length.
Joseph O'Brien's Aspen Colorado was the unplaced 11/2 favourite.
Enright said: "She was very good. I got a soft enough lead and tipped away. I was a bit slow at a couple of the hurdles down the back but she was just idling a little bit.
"From the back of the second-last I sent her on as I knew she'd stay. I'd say the further she goes the better."
Of the thick fog, Enright added: "It's absolutely no problem. You can see the jumps from a good bit away."
Monalee (3-1) gave Henry De Bromhead a double at Punchestown and an across-the-card treble after Peace News won at Cork when David Mullins cantered to victory in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle.
"I'm delighted with that. He's a lovely horse and had a great run in a bumper here last year," said De Bromhead.
"He was second in two bumpers which is pretty good going for one of mine. We put him away then.
"The guys have always wanted a horse to go to Cheltenham and funny enough we could have two in this guy and Heron Heights. It was a super ride from David and he's just a lovely horse, a real chaser in the making."
