WESPERADA, trained by Noel Mead, completed a hat-trick over timber in the Potato Protection Novice Hurdle at Bellewstown last evening under a vintage ride from Paul Carberry.

Market rival and favourite Spanky, partnered by Liam Cusack, went on before the third last flight and still held the advantage after the last, until Carberry managed to conjure up a surge to edge ahead close home and win bye three quarters of a length.

Young Stephen Clancy was taken to Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with a suspected broken leg when his mount, Blues Composer, slipped up at the half way stage in the MacDermott Communications Handicap. Victory went to the Jim Kavanagh trained Gerry Dardis who stayed on well from the two furlong pole under Pat Smullen to provide the Curragh handler with his first success of the current campaign.