All eyes were on Kieren Fallon at Tipperary yesterday evening as he returned from a six month drug ban, and his legion of supporters were not let down as the former champion made a successful comeback on the Aidan O'Brien-trained The Bogberry.
Fallon, sidelined as a result of testing positive for cocaine at Chantilly last year, received a great reception from racegoers both on entering the parade ring before the opening juvenile maiden and again when returning triumphant on the 4/7 favourite.
However the victory was far from simple as the son of Hawk Wing appeared to have plenty to do when trapped on the far rail approaching the straight.
Fallon had to switch his mount out in order to get a clear run, and made up at least four lengths from a furlong and a half out to get up in the closing strides.
'It's great to be back and the crowd have been unbelievable. It helped give me confidence knowing they were behind me. Things didn't go to plan in the race but at least he won,' said a delighted Fallon.
O'Brien was full of praise for his stable jockey saying, 'At the furlong marker I thought he couldn't win but Kieren did really well to get him up. Hopefully he will go to Royal Ascot now for the Chesham Stakes.'
Fallon was out of luck on his only other ride as Flying Cheetah trailed home last in the sprint handicap, where the Shane Gorey-ridden Fly By Magic just got the better of Lilly Be.
Elsewhere on the Flat section of the card, Islandbane and Many Colours both benefitted from front-running tactics.
Islandbane recorded her third win this year, in the process defying a 5lb penalty for a victory at Listowel last Sunday, when making virtually all in the seven furlongs handicap.
Pat Shanahan's mount, the well-backed 2/1 favourite, stayed on strongly under pressure in the straight to beat Bentasina by a length and a quarter.
Katirisa was sent off the 4/5 favourite in the seven furlongs maiden but was no match inside the final quarter mile for Many Colours.
Kevin Manning had the winner up with the pace throughout and, despite carrying her head markedly to the left, kept on well to beat the odds-on shot by two and a half lengths.
Jumping was the name of the game in the two and a half miles handicap chase, and On You Go gave his rivals a lesson to justify 100/30 favouritism in the hands of David Casey.
The six-year-old gelding, a first winner at the venue for Eugene O'Sullivan and the first horse he's trained for J P McManus, led three out for an easy eight lengths verdict over Real Overdrive.
'It's taken him a long time to get going and possibly he wanted this fast ground all along. I'll find a race for him in about three weeks time,' said O'Sullivan.
Whataboutya was far from 'foot perfect' in the beginners chase but the 8/13 favourite stretched clear from two out for Denis O'Regan, eventually beating Mister Virginian by an eased down 2 1/2L.
Fleeting Chance made a winning debut under Ross O'Sullivan in the bumper, heading favourite Wicker Park inside the final furlong to score by 1 1/2L.
