Ruby Walsh made the perfect return to the saddle with victory on Dual Gales in the Balbriggan Retail Park Hurdle at Bellewstown.
The champion jockey had been out of action with a broken ankle sustained in a fall at Killarney in May, but showed no signs of rustiness as Willie Mullins' evens favourite registered a four-and-a-half-length verdict over Auenschutze
Walsh had earlier failed to complete the course on his first mount back, pulling up Mullins' Blame The Missus after jumping four out in the Bellewstown Golfcourse Handicap Hurdle.
The spoils went to Charles Byrnes' 4-1 market leader Third Level Tom who benefited from a patient Davy Russell ride and strolled to a clear-cut seven-length triumph ahead of Canitellyou < Arctic (8-1) showed resolution which belied his inexperience to make a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
As a half-brother to Queen's Vase winner Shanty Star, Tracey Collins' grey will obviously get further than this minimum trip in time, but he showed enough speed to race prominently and when challenged by No Acting he stuck his neck out to score by a length.< Raise The Goblet was the subject of some support prior to the Bambury Bookmakers (QR) Handicap and duly landed the gamble in the hands of Colin Motherway.
The five-year-old had no recent form to speak of but was still backed down to 12-1 and after racing nearer last than first for much of the contest, he was brought to collar Desert Storm just inside the final furlong and raced away to beat favourite Equator by three and a half lengths.
Dermot Weld's April (5-4 favourite) finally broke her duck in The Irish Mirror Maiden, as did Benji's Babes who got off the mark as a 3-1 shot after a thrilling duel with Dactik in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
