The newly enlarged seven day Festival got underway in glorious sunshine at the north Kerry track, and Jim Bolger captured the opening feature for the fourth time in the last ten years.
Turn Back Time was the outsider of Bolger's two runners in the mile nursery, but she quickly settled the issue under Kevin Manning at the furlong pole to beat Academy Brief by 3L.
Legacy justified odds-on support in the opening 2yo maiden, although he needed to be driven right out by Fran Berry in the straight to get the better of Stormy Larissa by 1/2L.
Berry completed a double half-an-hour later aboard Polish Legion in the 6f handicap, striking the front entering the straight and keeping on well to hold off Richie Rich by 3/4L.
Gallileo Strike, who initiated a double for Tralee handler Tom Cooper at Killarney last Monday, did his bit to cheer up the locals when taking the 2m handicap.
The 6yo was produced with a well-timed challenge by champion apprentice Tadhg O'Shea to beat Bob What by 3/4L, and is likely to appear here again in a 1m6f amateur race on Saturday.
Junior Fontaine proved an impressive victor of the 2m handicap hurdle, always prominent under Conor O'Dwyer and eased down in the closing stages to beat Fair And Lively by 1 1/2L.
Lost In The Rain was installed a short-priced favourite for the 3yo hurdle following his Tralee win last month, and duly justified the confidence.
The Paul Carberry-ridden gelding jumped left at the last before going on to beat Newtown Dancer by 4L, and survived a subsequent stewards enquiry.
Flexible Action, a half brother to Direct Bearing, made a winning debut under Paul Tobin in the bumper when swooping late on the stands side.
Alan Magee
