The withdrawal of Prince Of Scars from the www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase made life easier for Alpha Des Obeaux but he still produced a professional performance to claim top honours.
In a race with a good few fallers, the 1-2 favourite jumped well in behind the leading group and moved to the front after taking the second-last.
He still had Round Tower and Goulane Chosen for company at the final obstacle but he cleared it well and David Mullins didn't have to get too serious for last season's World Hurdle runner-up to come a length and a half clear of Round Tower.
Prince Of Scars' trainer Gordon Elliott landed the He'llberemembered Hurdle courtesy of De Plotting Shed
Despite having to concede 10lb to each of his four opponents, the 13-8 favourite quickened nicely under Cian Collins after hitting the front two out, and proved five lengths too strong for Bentelimar
Elliott's Mega Fortune was all the rage for the Devils Bit 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle on his jumping debut but was an early casualty as Zig Zag (7-2) made his experience count.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained juvenile cruised up to tackle the front-running Moorland at the last and was pushed out by Jody McGarvey to triumph by three-quarters of a length.
Moorland's jockey Rachael Blackmore appeared set for the runner-up berth again when Summer Storm was tackled by Kansas Kid in the Premier County Handicap Hurdle, but the 5-1 favourite battled admirably to get up back up by a neck.< Shouband had just the one win from 24 previous attempts heading into the Thurles Handicap Chase but ran out a decisive scorer.
The 6-1 chance made eyecatching headway to touch down over two out in a share of the lead and Roger Loughran drove him right out to see off Rockshandy by four lengths.
Following on from Summer Storm and Shouband, For Sinead (4-1 favourite) became the third horse to win here on the back of a defeat at Cork last Sunday when landing the Leugh Handicap Hurdle.
