CHRISTY ROCHE, who has quickly established himself in the training ranks, was once again the scourge of the bookmakers when his charge, Monica's Choice, landed a tidy gamble under Ray Hogan in the Fenor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Tramore yesterday.

Supported from 3 to 1 to 5 to 4 favourite, the six-year-old Shaadi gelding, carrying the colours of the trainer's wife, Noeleen, came from off the pace to sprint past Bakema and Beau Cyrano on the short run-in to land the spoils by two lengths.

In the following Passage East Hurdle, odds-on chance Jay Man set out to make all under Charlie Swan, but was collared by Midnight Jazz and Shane Broderick after jumping the final flight.

Winning trainer Michael Hourigan, who described last Saturday's brief split with Shane Broderick, who missed out on the winning ride on Ultra Flutter, as "a one day suspension" added "Shane is a lovely fellow and I'm very grateful to have him working with me. He didn't turn up to ride work last weekend."

Matts Dilemma, partnered by Doc O'Connor, was the fortuitous winner of the Dunmore East Handicap Chase after the front-running favourite, Canaillou II, and Ken Whelan came to grief at the final fence when still holding a two-length advantage.

Doonega, who was racing just behind the eventual winner, was also claimed at the obstacle, leaving Pat Doyle's top-weight to come home unchallenged by 25 lengths from Ballyboden.

After No Avail stayed on well from the turn-in to land the Brownstown Maiden Hurdle under Tommy Trency, trainer Paddy Mullins said that he could not fancy her in the ground.

Charlie Swan will ride the Aidan O'Brien-trained Theatreworld, in preference to stable companion Urubnnde, in next Sunday's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. The seven-times champion said: "I rode both horses at Ballydoyle before racing and I've decided to ride Theatreworld. The forecast is for rain at the weekend and this will suit him more than Urubande."