< Glenfinn Captain atoned for a last-fence mistake at Thurles to run out a convincing winner of the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.
Second to Cailin Alainn after his blunder left the rider without irons, he had no such problems on this occasion, jumping to the front two out under Mark Walsh.< Carthalawn was the last to put up any resistance, but he was soon put in his place by Tom Taaffe's 5-4 favourite, who went on to win by three and a half lengths.
Walsh completed a double when booting home another favourite in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Chase as Joseph Crowley's Knock On The Head (4-1) notched his first success of the season.< Solwhit was another horse bouncing back from defeat, as he strode out impressively to land the Grade Two Red Mills Trial Hurdle.
Well behind in a three-runner affair at Thurles in December, the 11-10 market leader travelled with more of his usual zest in this, cruising into contention at the second-last under Davy Russell.
As soon as Russell gave him his head the race was over, and he finished three and a half lengths to the good over Jazz Messenger < Nicanor s first run since the 2006 Punchestown Festival ended with him settling for a satisfactory fourth in the Inistioge Beginners Chase.
The spoils went to Bringbackthebiff (3-1 favourite), who charged into a massive lead, and though that was eroded quickly by Captain Conflict Edward O'Grady's charge hung on to win by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite-backers had further cause for celebration when the Willie Mullins-trained Art Sleuth (4-5) outclassed the opposition in the Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle, scoring by an easy three lengths.
Mullins unleashed another smart bumper prospect when Glenlo Abbey (2-5 favourite) made a winning debut in the Rockview INH Flat Race, while Hangover proved a length and a half too strong for Prudent Honour in the Happy Valentines Day Handicap Hurdle as an 8-1 chance.
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