Kilbeggan Lad provided Patrickswell trainer Michael Hourigan with a welcome change of luck when landing the featured Guinness Handicap Hurdle on day five of the Harvest Festival.
The 14/1 (paid 20.50 on the Tote) chance was confidently ridden by Denis O'Regan, leading between the final two flights to beat Dbest by 2 1/2L with Blue Corrig a further 2L back in third.
'This horse was very in and out last season but my horses were sick. He has a preference for going left-handed and Denis feels there is another big one in him,' said Hourigan.
He added, 'I will have 80 to 100 horses this winter and Denis and Andrew McNamara will share the rides.'
McNamara was also seen to good effect later on when The Spoonplayer, jumping fast and accurately, responded gamely on the run-in to shrug off Martinstown (7/2-9/4) by 1L in the maiden hurdle.
Shark Tooth was all the rage for the opening 2yo maiden but could never get in a blow after a slow start as fellow newcomer Rare Delight scored for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.
Clear championship leader Smullen recorded his 66th win of the season as the Indian Ridge colt was up with the pace throughout and led inside the final furlong to beat Ciao by 3/4L.
'He is very lazy at home and Dermot thought blinkers would help to waken him up,' explained Moyglare Stud Farm representative Jimmy Feane.
The 4/6 favourite was found to be 'badly struck into behind' after finishing tenth, and Kieren Fallon reported the Sadler's Wells colt was unable to handle the track.
The former Mick Channon-trained Disobey made a successful Irish debut when produced on the stands side by Tadhg O'Shea to lead well inside the final furlong of the mile maiden.
'I've had her a few months and she's always showed heaps of pace. She's also schooling well and we'll mix it with her,' said trainer Colm Murphy after the filly survived an enquiry.
The stewards looked into two incidents in the straight involving a total of five horses but the placings remained unaltered.
O'Shea completed a 194/1 double half-an-hour later when getting the always prominent Fire Finch (first reserve) up in the closing stages to beat front-running The Castles by 1/2L in the 1m4f handicap.
The former champion apprentice reached his best seasonal tally of 35 with the brace, and successful trainer Tom Hogan is also having his best Flat campaign with 17 winners.
'She's a good, tough filly and appreciated the strong handling Tadhg gave her today. It helped having no stalls as she can be a bit slow out,' said the Nenagh handler.
Hogan recorded his own mixed double on the afternoon when Sonnyanjoe went clear two out under David Flannery in the three miles handicap hurdle to beat Nassaro by 2 1/2L.
On a tough day for punters, Roundstone Lady (9/2-11/4) stayed on into third while Rosbane Valley, 8/1 in the morning and backed down to 100/30, held every chance before fading to fifth.
Tom Ryan has been stood down for 21 days with severe concussion after a fall from Wotsitooya in this race, and was taken to Tralee Hospital for observation.
Laragh House put up a bold round of jumping from the front to take the 2m6f beginners chase in fine style, eased on the run-in by Paddy Flood to beat Chapel Cross by 10L.
Barry Cash has a suspected fracture of a finger on his right hand after being unseated from Ummoon when in rear four out.
Silent Oscar gave punters some respite in the bumper when justifying good support under Colman Sweeney in commanding fashion.
Alan Magee
