INVADER RAIDS THURLES KITTY

Irish Invader ran out a comfortable winner of the Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles - with odds-on favourite Finger Onthe Pulse parting company with Paddy Flood at the first fence.

Ruby Walsh immediately sent the Willie Mullins-trained winner to the head of affairs and disputed the running with Holly Tree for much of the Grade Three event.

His three rivals began to feel the pinch soon before turning for home and Walsh only had to keep the 7-4 shot up to his work to score by 13 lengths from Carrigeen King.

"I told Ruby to have him up with the pace and not to give Holly Tree an easy lead," said Mullins.

"He jumps so well that we need to make plenty of use of him and he doesn't have that many gears.

"We'll stick to conditions races around two miles."

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