Apprentice Craig Allen stole the show at the first mixed meeting of the year at Thurles on Thursday.
The 10lb claimer gave 25/1 shot Max Scal an enterprising ride as the gelding repeated last year's victory in the Nenagh Handicap.
Allen, who was recording only his second winner, soon had his mount in the lead and opened up a substantial lead. The 20-year-old had his rivals in trouble before the turn and kept the gelding going down the straight for a four-length success over Seasoned.
'We spent a lot of the winter trying to get him settled,' said trainer John O'Shea. 'He likes soft ground and has dropped a few pound since he won this last year. He'll run again shortly before it dries up.'
Champion jockey Declan McDonogh got off the mark for the season when Volcan Magique took the Devils Bit Handicap.
James Leavy's gelding battled it out with Rince Donn inside the final furlong, edging ahead in the last 100yds to score by a length-and-a-quarter.
'It's great to get off to a winning start. He has a mind of his own but is better fresh,' said Leavy. 'There was money for him but not a penny of it was mine - someone must have a crystal ball!' The winner could turn out again at the weekend.
The John Oxx-trained Shabahar was to the fore throughout in the opening median auction maiden and went on turning for home, under Fran Berry.
The 2/1f kept on well to score by a length-and-a-quarter from market rival Tamimi's History, who was ridden someway out and stayed on late to grab second.
'He's a nice little horse. We'll probably run him in a handicap over 1m2f - he's a horse that stays and might get a mile-and-a-half in time,' said Oxx's assistant Slim O'Neill.
Amateur Barry Foley partnered his first winner on the track when Native Churchtown claimed an eventful Templemore Beginners Chase.
The 22-year-old produced his mount with a well-timed challenge to lead at the last and he was left clear as front-runner Your Almost There fell and brought down Tedeen.
The Michael Winters-trained gelding stayed on for a two-length success over Jamie's Boy. Foley, from Ballyhea in Co. Cork, was adding to his 12 winners 'between the flags'.
Anshire Tower could be aimed at Fairyhouse after producing an impressive front-running performance to claim the first division of the Cashel Beginners Chase.
Davy Russell let his mount go on before the second fence and he never saw another rival. Seamus Neville's charge kept on well down the straight to score by 19 lengths.
Shifting Alliance showed that stamina is his forte when plugging on gamely to get up after the last and score by six-lengths from Garranagree in the second division.
Patrick Mullins delivered O'Hana with a well-timed run to lead a furlong out and claim the bumper by two-lengths from Vickate.
Trainer Willie Mullins indicated that the mare may switch her attention to hurdles now while a Flat campaign during the summer is also an option.
