Identity Thief is awkward at the last© Photo Healy Racing
< Identity Thief made an impressive return to action in the Grade Two WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.
Second at this level at the Irish National fixture back in the spring, Henry de Bromhead's charge hadn't been seen since the Punchestown Festival but that didn't stop punters sending him off the 15-8 favourite.
Bryan Cooper was aggressive and dictated terms to suit himself and although he was far from fluent at the final flight, he never looked like being reeled in by Whiteout who was three and a half lengths adrift at the line.
The Gigginstown House Stud colours were also carried to victory by the Gordon Elliott-trained Cogryhill (2-7 favourite) in the Eventsec Maiden Hurdle.
Cooper was happy to kick on from the top of the hill and only had his stablemate The Storyteller for company in the home straight, eventually recording a three-and-a-half-length success, with 13 lengths back to the rest.
An excellent day for Gigginstown was capped when Elliott's Tombstone landed the odds in the Kilklyhevlin Hotel Flat Race under Nina Carberry.
De Bromhead followed up Identity Thief's success when The King Of Brega collared fellow 100-30 joint-favourite Churchfield Champ in the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.< Listen Dear proved a class apart in the Grade Three EBF Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novice Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh controlled the race from the outset on Willie Mullins' 7-4 favourite and she simply pulled further and further clear as the race went on, eventually passing the post a hard-held 16 lengths clear of Colla Pier < Topper Thornton ran out a fortunate winner of the Porter & Co. Beginners Chase.
The 14-1 shot was headed by market leader Noble Endeavor when that one took off too far out at the last, allowing Topper Thornton to register a two-and-a-quarter-length triumph< Pace And Passion (7-1) kept up her excellent level of consistency with victory in the Allianz Handicap Hurdle.
