JJ Slevin© Photo Healy Racing
Jockey JJ Slevin booted home the first two winners at Down Royal - on Last Goodbye for Liz Doyle and Paul Stafford's Moonlone Lane
Last Goodbye was very well supported from 8/1 in the morning and an opening show of 11/2. He was returned the 7/2 joint favourite for the two and a half mile beginners' chase.
Slevin settled him behind the leaders. The pair were third at the final fence and grabbed the lead on the run-in. Victory was secured by a length from Velocity Boy (9/1). Burgas (9/2) was two and three quarter lengths away in third.
Slevin said: "He jumped brilliantly and travelled well. We went an even enough gallop.
"He would have been an unlucky enough loser. When Keith Donoghue unseated (on Moonshine Lad down the back, I was on the inner and had nowhere to go and got shuffled back.
"He's coming on - that's his third race over fences and he was second to Disko (in Punchestown)."
In the two and a half mile handicap chase, Moonlone Lad and Slevin hit the front at the eighth of 13 fences and saw the task out by a length at 8/1. Paper Lantern the 3/1 favourite, came home second, some 12 lengths in front of Refused A Name (6/1).
Afterwards, trainer Paul Stafford said: "He was going well in Bangor (when he unseated). It was probably a lesser race. He takes a while to get to his peak but he was at his peak today.
"He finished third in this race last year under Lorna Brooke. I tried to bring Lorna over again but she had a fall in the week which aggravated a wrist injury. He does run well for girls.
"I got JJ at the last minute. He gave him a lovely ride as he doesn't need to be bullied, just kidded along.
"The owner, Michael Keegan, led him up and is a pal of mine. He lives in Phibsboro, Dublin.
"I have 14 in - a couple of point-to-pointers and the rest for the track."
