Rand, a former top-class hurdler in New Zealand and also a winner in Australia, America and Japan, made it country number five when he took the closing Kilkenny Chase at Gowran Park yesterday.
With the meeting in doubt until passing an inspection at 7.30am and as the chase course was the most vulnerable, the two races over the larger obstacles were moved to the end of the card.
A market-drifter to 5/1, Rand belied that apparent lack of confidence coming home a six length winner under Paul Carberry. Noel Meade has been training the injury-prone grey since last August and suggested the ten-year-old would now go handicapping.
Only recently in the number one spot for the first time, amateur rider John Feane made it victory two on his own mare Mysterious Lass after the duo came out best by a short head in a desperate finish to the maiden hurdle.
Trained by Declan Gillespie, the seven-year-old wasn't favoured in betting on the photo (6/4 available) and she then had to survive an steward's enquiry into possible interference in the closing stages.
Further drama was to emerge from this event as second past the post, Glitter And Glory was disqualified as his rider Johnny Cullen weighed in almost 3Ibs light. William Coleman O'Brien, trainer of the 20/1 outsider was fined E500.
Major Burns got favourite backers back on course after an opening race disappointment, Willie Mullins' 7/4 shot leading before the last in the other maiden hurdle under David Casey before going on to achieve a two and a half length success.
The winning handler said in the aftermath, 'he doesn't want it really heavy but goes on anything else and he'll go for a winners of one now maybe back here on Sunday week.'
Available at double the S.P. in the morning, 5/1 chance, How Is Things delighted her large band of owners, the Time Will Tell Syndicate by collaring Willoughby Joe in the shadow of the post under Barry Geraghty to score in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle.
Trained by Robert Tyner to win a point-to-point last year, Edward O'Grady now has charge of the mare who has options at Sligo and Punchestown depending on how she comes out of this race.
Eric McNamara had a welcome winner when well-backed Harbour View (8/1 into 6/1), recorded a comprehensive nine length win in the three mile handicap hurdle under leading claiming jockey Robbie Power.
For Power it was a twenty eighth victory of the campaign and he looks assured of being top rider in that category whilst the triumphant five-year-old gelding may now head for a similar race at Limerick on Monday week.
A divide in a bumper confined to horses having their first outings under rules, presented ordinary punters with a couple of real brain teasers. However there were plenty who knew about division one winner, Nowyouretalking (7/1 into 4/1).
Tim Hyde riding for his father and namesake, travelled supremely well throughout and it was all over once the favourite struck on early in the straight.
It was altogether tighter in the second division, Charlie Swan's Lakil Boy proving best in a close four way drive for the line under Leonard Flynn to prevail by a head.
Final Finish, an eleven-year-old, without a win in twenty two pevious starts, rewarded his connections patience, coming a second time under Larry Hurley to take the handicap chase for trainer Stephen Ryan at odds of 16/1.
