On what proved a profitable evening for favourite backers, Barry Geraghty completed a double in front of another big crowd at Kilbeggan aboard the Edward O'Grady-trained pair Albatros and Touch Of Love.
Albatros took a walk in the market for the Bloomfield House Hotel Hurdle, but the dual purpose gelding belied the lack of confidence by leading three out for a facile three and a half lengths victory over Goldenhalo.
'He will stay in training over the summer, and could run on the Flat or over hurdles at the Killarney and Galway Festivals', said O'Grady.
Touch Of Love was sent off the strongly fancied 5/4 favourite for the Coola Handicap Hurdle, and punters had few worries as the five-year-old smoothly headed Saltmills Rambler approaching the last to score by three lengths.
Conor O'Dwyer and Arthur Moore also teamed up for a double on the evening with the J P McManus-owned pair Royal Marine and Fier Goumier.
Fier Goumier was sent off the well-backed 5/2 favourite in the featured Max Premium Irish Dog Food Handicap Chase, and the French-bred gelding cruised to the front at the last where the trail-blazing Nippy Cherry crashed out.
Royal Marine ended a frustrating sequence of placings when justifying favouritism in the EBF Beginners Chase. O'Dwyer needed to push out the nine-year-old from the last to hold Balmy Native by three lengths.
Mighty Mandy survived a stewards enquiry after a narrow victory in the Horseleap Maiden Hurdle. Paul Carberry produced the former winning point-to-pointer to challenge the front-running Cochis Run off the home turn and, after the pair got close on the run-in, edged ahead to score by a neck. 'She really needs three miles, and will jump a fence in time', said Halford.
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