< Fort George emphatically proved he is back on top form with a first victory over fences in the feature Christy McSweeney Memorial Novice Chase at Killarney.

Henry de Bromhead's eight-year-old (2-1) had a poor time of it last winter but looked rejuvenated when winning over hurdles last month and he kept up the good work in taking style.

Ruby Walsh sent him to the front from the start and once he had seen off Casey Top he galloped on too strongly for the favourite Sweeps Hill winning by five lengths.

There was a shock for punters in the Easy Clean Ltd Race when the well-backed 7-4 favourite Giant Step veered off to the right at the start and into the rails before being pulled up by Billy Lee.

The prize went to the Ken Condon-trained Coprah (7-2), who was brought wide to the stands side in the straight by Johnny Murtagh to catch Mawaakef and win by a length and three-quarters.

It was a quick double for Murtagh after Shiramiyna sent off the 8-11 favourite, gave her supporters no worries in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

John Oxx's three-year-old, who had chased home Teo's Sister last time, was soon in front and had her rivals cooked entering the closing stages before easing to victory by a length and a quarter.

Favourite-backers suffered another blow when Kate Harrington went for home three furlongs out on her mother Jessica's Dundrum (11-2) in the Killarney Veterinary Clinic (QR) Race and ran away from 1-2 shot Tornedo Shay to win by eight lengths.

John Murphy's filly Goldplated (9-2) shrugged off a hike in the ratings after last month's Limerick victory to beat stablemate Summer Glow the favourite, by two and a half lengths in the Corcoran's Furniture & Carpets Handicap under Kevin Manning.