Clonmel farmer Donal O'Connor was the toast of Listowel when his horses Native Performance and River Cora fought out the finish of the Guinness Kerry National.
Timmy Murphy got a bit extra out of Native Performance in the closing strides to snatch victory by a neck, with Just In Debt staying on a further three lengths back in third.
However O'Connor certainly had luck on his side as the front-running Cloudy Bays was still travelling strongly with a two lengths advantage when blundering and unseating Pat Verling two out.
'When the race was over I didn't know who had won as I was so excited,' said O'Connor, a farmer and garage owner whose been coming racing here for over 40 years and has six horses in training.
Grand National winner Monty's Pass carried top-weight as he bidded to land this race for the second successive year but dropped away after six out to finish a well beaten seventh.
Keith Hadnett broke his left collar-bone when unseated from Moscow Express, while Niall Madden broke his right collar-bone when falling heavily from Thari.
There was further woe at the third last where the Johnjo O'Neill-trained Putsometnby took a fatal fall.
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen dominated the Flat section of the card when teaming up for a double with Former Senator and Battling Mac.
Kassabat set the pace in the five runner mile and half conditions race but was headed inside the final furlong by length victor Former Senator.
Smullen had a much easier time aboard Battling Mac, available at 5/1 in morning prices and supported down to 11/8 favourite, in the mile handicap.
The five-year-old gelding was always prominent, and stretched clear early in the straight to beat Babble On by six lengths.
Seamus Heffernan successfully adopted forcing tactics on Silvergino in the other Flat event, the seven furlongs handicap, strongly ridden close home to hold off Knockanure Lad by a neck.
Felix The Great led between the final two flights of the winners hurdle under Adrian Lane to beat Pakiefromathleague by four lengths.
Fatherofthebride justified 11/10 favouritism in good style in the maiden hurdle, sent on four out by Barry Geraghty for a comfortable four length verdict over Heemanela.
Ceannairceach (Mark Grant) gained reward for some consistent efforts when beating Mill Bank by a length and a half in the two miles handicap chase.
Euro Leader took a walk in the market (5/2-9/2jt fav) but the Willie Mullins-trained newcomer still landed the bumper by two and a half lengths in the hands of Jamie Codd.
