Noel Meade's Restoration survived a heart-stopping stumble after the final flight before winning the feature race, the E35,000 Kerryman 4YO Handicap Hurdle, at Tralee today.
Restoration made most of the running and after drawing clear at the third last, had the race in safe keeping when he stumbled badly on the run-in.
However, jockey Paul Carberry sat tight, kept the partnership intact and regained his momentum to defeat Frenchfurze Lad by a comfortable two and a half lengths.
Afterwards Meade reported 'Restoration had been working very well before he disappointed me at Leopardstown recently. However, we made the running with him at Kilbeggan and it seems to have made a big difference.'
He added 'he loved that ground, apart from the bit after the final flight, and will go to Listowel for the Lartigue Hurdle next.'
The McCullagh family, from Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, were to the fore in the Denis Moriarty Plant Hire Claiming Race, when Dart Along won for trainer Michael McCullagh, defeating Major Title, ridden by McCullagh's son Niall.
Dart Along, under Johnny Murtagh, hit the front early in the straight, and eventually held the challenge of Major Title by a length and a half.
Winning trainer Michael McCullagh later mentioned 'hopefully someone will come along with a big cheque for me now!' Fifteen minutes later McCullagh's wish came through when Dart Along was claimed by Paul O'Neill for E16,000.
Half an hour later jockey Niall McCullagh had more misfortune, when misjudging the winning post for the 50 yard marker on neck runner-up Indalo Bay, in the Fabric & Furniture Centre Handicap, won by All Sorts Star, under Wayne Lordan.
The stewards later inquired into the incident and severely cautioned McCullagh concerning his responsibilities in this regard in the future.
Eoin Doyle's Coin Man, under Shay Barry, completed a hat-trick of wins when making all to win the Lansdowne Real Estate EBF Novice Hurdle.
Doyle later reported 'he has earned himself a break now and may come back for the Cheltenham November Festival.'
Trainer Dermot Weld recorded his 50th winner of the season when landing the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with So Amazing, under Pat Smullen.
The son of Galileo made virtually all, and although joined in the straight by Davidii, battled well to eventually win by two and a half lengths.
Weld later reported, by phone, 'So Amazing is a good tough horse, who stays very well and will go to Leopardstown for the Eyrefield Stakes at the end of the season.'
Jockey Robbie Power partnered his third winner in three days when guiding Jessica Harrington's Breathing Fire to win the Crosse's Water Drilling Maiden Hurdle.
