Austin out of the doldrums as he is just denied a double

Veteran trainer Willie Austin had endured a losing streak going back to late October last year, but signs at Clonmel suggested the stable might just have turned the corner as he saddled a winner and went very close to landing a double.

Seasoned campaigner All The Chimneys returned to form to land the 2m1f handicap hurdle under David Mullins, who came widest of all to make his challenge and just deny the wandering runner-up Littlestickarubarb who stuck to the inner.

Austin said: "None of our horses were right last year but hopefully we have them right this year. I think it was down to allergies. We had everything tested and everything was coming back fine, but still something was wrong.