< Rebel Fitz had little trouble justifying 6-4 favouritism on his first run on the Flat at Clonmel.
Michael Winters' charge enjoyed a fruitful novice hurdle campaign over the winter, winning three times and performing with credit in Graded company.
Fit from a solid fourth behind Dedigout in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown less than a fortnight ago, the seven-year-old bounded five lengths clear of He'llberemembered having been given a confident ride by Seamie Heffernan.
Eoghan O'Grady's Headford Flyer also opened his account on the level in the Sepam Tipperary Perpetual Cup Handicap.< Scots Gaelic looked to have slipped the field after kicking eight lengths clear on the turn for home but his stride started to shorten passing the furlong marker.
Kevin Manning delivered the winner perfectly and the 11-2 chance went on to beat heavily-backed market leader Beau Michael who ran on late in the piece, by three-quarters of a length.< One Cool Shabra produced a gallant front-running performance to land division one of the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap.< Faranadooney loomed up as the only real danger turning in but Oliver Brady's 9-4 chance found more for Sam James, pulling four and a half lengths clear.
Division two went down to the wire, with 10-1 shot Ionisphere holding favourite Enter The Indian by a short head.
The Willie McCreery-trained winner, ridden by Wayne Lordan, was all out in the end but held on by the narrowest of margins from the fast-finishing runner-up.
Jessie Harrington's Glamorous landed the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Maiden Hurdle on her first run for 143 days.
The 4-1 chance took full advantage of a last-flight blunder from newcomer Regal One who looked a major threat at the time.
The Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap Hurdle went to the gamble of the race, Baresi who was backed into 4-1 favouritism and battled bravely to see off top-weight Credit Box
