Edward O'Grady and Barry Geraghty took Down Royal's flagship meeting by the scruff of the neck when The Real Article (5-4) completed a valuable double on the card in Friday's feature Grade 2 WKD Hurdle.
The son of Definite Article benefitted from a typically assured Geraghty ride, from a position where he appeared to be struggling at the second-last flight.
Most eyes were firmly locked on the Jessica Harrington inmate Oscars Well who was making his seasonal reappearance, and when he jumped to the front two out, he appeared the most likely winner.
However, The Real Article rallied strongly and got back up to shrug off the late challenge of Kalann < Dazzling Susie was all the rage in the Grade 3 European Breeders Fund Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novices Hurdle but she had nothing to offer in the finish and a patient Geraghty ride prevailed aboard Miss Nomer
The 13/2 chance took full advantage of the weight-for-age concession and was always travelling the strongest when she joined the hot favourite and Noras Fancy at the penultimate flight.
Exciting prospect Ipsos Du Berlais justified odds-on favouritism (4-5) hard on the bridle in the Allianz Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meade's grey was settled beautifully by Davy Russell and despite the best efforts of a loose horse in hindering a smooth passage to the line, the five-year-old maintained his unbeaten record with ease.
That completed another double on the card, with Meade also saddling Blue Cannon (15-2) to land the Eventsec 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle. Davy Condon's mount appeared to benefit from a final-flight blunder from Experimentalist who was travelling menacingly for Gordon Elliot.
The Porter & Co. Beginners Chase went the way of the prominently-ridden Four Commanders (13-8) before I Hear A Symphony (20-1) produced a shock result in landing the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.
