< Bahrain Storm is among the entries for the big Galway showpiece events and Pat Flynn's eight-year-old limbered up with a stylish victory in the Irish Open July 28th-31st Chase at Killarney.
Sent off the 5-4 favourite, the 2009 Galway Hurdle winner shared second spot with Ponmeoath for most of the way and when that one cracked approaching three out, he had leader Echo Bob in his sights.
Bahrain Storm was driven up to join issue at the final fence by David Casey and asserted on the run-in to score by three and a half-lengths, with last year's winner Schelm in third.
Henry de Bromhead's lightly raced Sizing Symphony (9-2) led all the way to take the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park/Killarney Racegoers Club Maiden Hurdle.
Not seen since mid-March, the five-year-old was always travelling sweetly and held a decisive advantage approaching the final flight before coasting in under Davy Russell to win by 11 lengths.
On a mixed card, Ballydoyle juvenile Plutorius left his Down Royal debut form well behind as he opened his account in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Joseph O'Brien always had him up with the pace and when favourite Alkazim ranged up with a threatening challenge, the 7-2 shot pulled out plenty to score by a length and a quarter.< Aragorn Icon got his head in front for the first time in 14 attempts at Tipperary last time and followed up in the John Buckley Auctioneers Handicap despite a 9lb hike in the ratings.
Colm O'Donoghue drove the David Marnane-trained four-year-old (5-2 joint-favourite) into the lead a furlong out and he held pacesetter Blackwitch Woman by three-quarters of a length.
There was good support for Negotiate in the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap and Andrew Oliver's charge (11-4 favourite) brought home the money, leading a quarter of a mile out and staying on strongly to score by a length and three-quarters for Fran Berry.
