Champion Bumper winner Relegate gets off the mark over hurdles

It may have taken two attempts to break her hurdling duck, but Champion Bumper winner Relegate put herself forward as one of the leading lights in the novice division with a battling victory under Ruby Walsh in a hotly contested mares' maiden hurdle.

There was not much difference between her and impressive Navan Listed bumper winner Barrington Court in the betting, and there threatened to be little between them in the race itself as they both travelled well into the straight.

But despite making mistakes at the final two flights, Walsh's mount proved the stronger with Relegate staying on stoutly to the line to prevail by half a length from game front-runner Caravation, with Barrington Court fading to finish third.