Eagles Valley provided Paul Nolan with his first winner on the Flat when recording a runaway victory in the Oran Handicap. The nine-year-old stretched clear before the furlong pole to beat the dead-heaters Teach Beaumont and Windy Project by an eased down eight lengths.
'She loves the ground, and will go back over hurdles', said the Wexford handler, who took out a Flat licence last year.
Nolan later completed a mixed double when Torduff Boy got the better of a protracted duel with the luckless Empor Star in the Tulsk Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old gelding dug deep under Kieran Gaule to prevail by a length.
'Jumping is his forte', said Nolan, who added: 'He has been a very consistent horse, and is a real summer chaser'.
Pat Smullen marked his 24th birthday by partnering Madamaa to a hard-earned success in the Castlerea Maiden. The champion was seen at his strongest to get the Alzao filly up virtually on the line to touch off newcomer Beyshira.
Madamaa sported the blue and white silks of Hamdan Al Maktoum, and his home-bred, Khetaam, was successful half-an-hour earlier in the Boyle Maiden. The son of Machiavellian needed a strong drive by Stephen Craine to beat Sky To Sea by two lengths.
