Tout makes it a double for Meade at Thurles

TOUT EST PERMIS got up in the final stride to edge out the front-running Sub Lieutenant in a pulsating finish to the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles.

Sub Lieutenant looked like making all the running, but the grey Tout Est Permis (13-8 favourite) — winner of the Troytown Handicap Chase when last seen — rallied on the flat to nail his rival by a short head and complete a hat-trick.

It was a one-two for owners Gigginstown House Stud and a double for trainer Noel Meade and jockey Sean Flanagan, who had been successful with First Approach earlier.

Meade said: ‘I haven’t enjoyed a winner as much in a long time, because I was down at the final fence and I was sure he was beaten and I couldn’t believe he got up.

‘The story is he wants further and softer ground as well as it was plenty quick for him.

‘What will happen next, I don’t know, but he could well run in the Ryanair. He is improving and is putting on weight and getting stronger all the time.

‘I’d be more inclined not to go to Gowran now [for the Red Mills Chase] as it could empty him out over two and a half miles there. I think he’ll go to Cheltenham and he wouldn’t run again [before Cheltenham], but I’ll have to talk to the bosses first.’

JJ Slevin came in for the spare ride on Sub Lieutenant for trainer Henry de Bromhead after Rachael Blackmore had been stood down following falls in the two previous races.

Camelia De Cotte ran the opposition into the ground to record a convincing success in the Order Of St George Coolmore NH Sires Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.

Paul Townend was in cruise control on the Willie Mullins-trained sevenyear-old as she took her record to five wins from six starts over fences.