RACING: Ground Ball emerged an easy but slightly fortunate winner of the feature Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday. Conor O'Dwyer made most of the running on the final circuit of the two-mile contest with the Charlie Swan-trained seven-year-old, and the pair were still travelling smoothly although strongly pressed by Lissbonney Project.

However, the 9 to 4 favourite gave Davy Russell a crashing fall two from home, leaving Ground Ball to come home in his own time, 25 lengths clear of Macs Gildoran.

Ground Ball, a smart chaser, was reverting to hurdles after finishing unplaced in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on his last run.

"When Davy came to me, it was going to be a good tussle," O'Dwyer said. "When he fell, I thought I would have a check round to see who else was going to come, but I was that far clear I couldn't believe it.

"I spoke to Davy and he thought he might have had me, but my lad does nothing quick and nothing in front either, so I was quite happy. But I wasn't disappointed to see him go!"