Michael Kinane has taken the early lead in the Flat jockeys title race, and the former champion brought his tally for the season to five when partnering a 44/1 double aboard Alstemeria and Ostjessy.
Alstemeria, absent since her debut third here on the delayed opening day of the 2001 season, ultimately proved a convincing winner of the Mallow Maiden. However the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly was ridden along from halfway in this six furlongs event before stretching clear of Gilded Vanity inside the final furlong to score by two-and-a-half-lengths.
Ostjessy floored a gamble on newcomer Elapour (11/10 to 4/6) in the Conna Maiden. The five-year-old made her experience tell in the closing stages as Kinane produced her on the far rail to beat the odds-on favourite by half a length.
Jim Bolger, who received a coveted Hall Of Fame honour at the annual Irish Flat Trainers Awards last Thursday, opened his account for the season when Margarula stayed on best under Kevin Manning to land the ten furlongs handicap.
Golden Storm may head next for a novice at the Punchestown Festival after showing admirable battling qualities under Sean McDermott to overhaul the front-running Risk Accessor on the run-in of the featured Heineken Chase.
Keith Hadnett, now on the nine winner mark for the season, further boosted his reputation as one of the emerging young claimers when Dangerousdanmagru struck the front at the final flight to take the Hickey Communications Handicap Hurdle.
The 20/1 shock victory of Anvil Lord (Neil Mulholland) in the Munster Waste Management Maiden Hurdle meant that the jackpot pool wasn't won for the third successive time here, and the pool of 28,045 euro is carried forward to today's meeting.
Alan Magee
