Ruby Walsh made a triumphant return to the saddle on Lareena at Thurles.
Walsh had been out of action since breaking his leg in November but has recovered in time for next week's Cheltenham Festival and warmed up with a comeback ride on Willie Mullins' 11-8 favourite in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Having tracked the leaders, he kicked his mount on after landing over two out and although Awayinthewest threw down a serious challenge, Lareena was more fluent over the last and stretched five lengths away.< Synopsis made a successful beginning to her career over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
The 5-4 favourite progressed from a position towards the rear before the third-last and after going clear between the final couple of obstacles, crossed the line with seven lengths in hand of Fintara
Her trainer Gordon Elliott doubled up when 3-1 favourite Goodthynemilan regained the winning thread under Davy Russell in the Urlingford Rated Chase.
Elliott also looked like landing the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle when Caltex took the last with a slight advantage and landed running.
However, Andrew Lynch threw everything at The Conditional (3-1), and Martin Hassett's six-year-old responded really well to get up in the shadow of the post, denying Caltex by a head.
Hassett was also on the scoresheet thanks to Mary Frances commanding performance in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle.
Sean Flanagan put the pace to the race on the 5-1 shot and the further she went, the better she went as she strolled across the line with no less than 25 lengths in hand of O'Ceallaigh.< Zipporah (9-1) turned the Killinan Handicap Hurdle into a procession for Denise O'Shea and Brian Hayes, while Mullins added to Lareena's triumph when 1-2 favourite Voix Des Tiep proved far too good for his opponents in the Fethard Flat Race.
