The well-supported favourite asserted his authority inside the final furlong to win by half a length from Wathab.
Twelve-times champion Kinane was narrowly foiled of a double when Yukon failed to catch the Ger Lyons-trained Cat Five by a half length in the Oola Handicap.
The Robert Tyner-trained Camden Tanner was a most impressive three-length winner of the Gowla Power-Pak Chase. Partnered by Davy Russell, Camden Tanner led after two out to beat Native Scout by an easy three lengths.
The Dermot Quinn-trained Doire-Chinn bravely made all with David Moran in the Evening Meeting At Tipperary Handicap to record her fifth career success. Afterwards, Doire-Chinn's Pomeroy-based owner Emmet Quinn revealed how she will continue to mix it on the flat and over hurdles.
Irene Oakes got off the mark for the season following Divinshki's game success under Seamus Heffernan in the Ashtown House Stud Maiden. Divinshki will now revert back to handicap company.
Paul Tobin recorded his 12th 'park' success by combining forces with Pat O'Connor to capture the Gowla Breed 'N' Grow Mares Flat Race with Washaki.
Winner of the Gain mares point-to-point final at Ballynoe last month, Washaki will now be left off for the summer.
The Michael Hourigan-trained Central Billing came home by a smooth half length from Galbally Star with Timmy Murphy in the Gowla Go-'N'-Go Handicap Chase whilst On The Net held off Where's Eddie by the minimum margin under Eoghain O'Grady in the bumper.
At Ballinrobe Wayne Smith recorded his first winners since returning from a successful winter stint in Dubai when partnering a double on the Declan Gillespie-trained pair Letsimpress and Guest Artist.
Smith, runner-up to Gary Hind in the Dubai Jockeys' Championship with 36 wins including the Guineas and Derby on Victory Moon, had Letsimpress prominent throughout in the juvenile auction maiden. She quickened nicely entering the straight, and kept on well to beat Mrs St George by a length and a half.
'She was a little unlucky on her debut at Navan but that experience counted here, and she really quickened around the bend. She will continue in auction races, and we'll find a winners race next,' said Gillespie.
Guest Artist completed a 57 to 1 double for the Smith/Gillespie combination in the nine-furlong handicap, also leading off the final bend to beat favourite Lucky Largo by two lengths. He will bid for a quick follow up at Gowran next week.
Dual champion apprentice Tadhg O'Shea took the other Flat race on the card when the Dermot Weld- trained Ivowen got the better of Sauterelle inside the final furlong to score by three- quarters of a length.
Dusseldorf got her chasing career off to a successful start when landing the two-mile beginners chase under David Casey. The five-year- old mare, trained and bred by Austin Leahy, stretched away from the front-running Poetry Man between the final two fences for a seven length victory.
The James Given-trained gelding was skilfully extricated from an unpromising position with a circuit to run by McKeown, who weaved through to be perfectly placed on the home turn.
Once unleashed, Hugs Dancer lengthened his stride to cut down Knavesmire Omen inside the final furlong and then hold the challenge of the unlucky favourite Big Moment, who did not have the clearest of runs off the home turn, by half a length.
Given's confidence in the gelding's chance had been boosted by two bits of work he had done.
He said: 'He worked at Southwell, and although he hated the sand, he beat Crow Wood, who won at Doncaster on Monday.
'Then we took him to Ripon and he again worked well, even though he does not handle the soft - and he was the same weight as when he won the Ebor last year, so we were hopeful!' The Gainsborough trainer added: 'He has been improving all the time and the handicapper keeps putting him up, so we will have to look for higher targets. He is in the Yorkshire Cup next week, but that might come a bit soon.
'People say we are tilting at windmills, but he is in the Ascot Gold Cup (10 to 1 from 20 to 1 with Coral) too, and that is a target. He is a proven stayer and few horses stay as well as he does - he is an immensely proud horse to have around the yard.'
Given, who trains Hugs Dancer for David Maloney and Graham White, went on: 'He is so tough. When he ran in the Cesarewitch, he had given so much when winning the Ebor that Dean said he was running on empty for the last five furlongs but he still stayed on to finish fifth.'
McKeown (43) has no thoughts of retiring and no wonder as he is riding as well as ever, and he was doubly delighted as he was instrumental in Hugs Dancer being bought out of the Michael Stoute stable.
He explained: 'He is not the best horse I have ridden, but he is my favourite -- Declan O'Shea tipped me off about him and I advised Enn Reitel to buy him - and I have been associated with him ever since.
'I think he is one of the most versatile horses in training. He won the Cumberland Plate over a mile and a half at Carlisle and then he was beaten only a length in the Northumberland Plate, and after that the Ebor was always going to be a formality - and he has won over two miles five furlongs!'
McKeown went on: 'I know I am not going to get many good ones to ride from now on. Him and Tedburrow are the main two and they are both highly rated now - Hugs Dancer was off 93 today and I suppose the handicapper is going to put him up to a hundred, so I suppose we will have to win something like the Ascot Gold Cup'!
A visit to the dentist awaits Hammiya after she gave her trainer Marcus Tregoning back-to-back wins in the UPM-Kymmene Cheshire Oaks.
The filly, who had lost a tooth when banging her head on the stalls at Beverley on her previous outing, reopened the wound when she did the same thing again before the start of this Listed prize.
But it did not put the brakes on the 9 to 1 chance as she flew fast and late to land the spoils under Willie Supple.
The daughter of Darshaan was held up off the pace in the initial stages and she had to produce a telling turn of foot down the outside of the pack to land the race.
Favourite Halawanda had moved into the lead over a furlong out but had no answer to the winner's challenge and went down by one and a quarter lengths.
The Jim Bolger-trained Snippets was a further two lengths away in third place and did not get the clearest of runs. Jockey Kevin Manning had to sit and suffer on the inside before extricating the filly in the last couple of furlongs. But the winner had flown at that stage.
Tregoning was reluctant to commit Hammiya to the Vodafone Oaks, the race in which last year's Cheshire Oaks winner Shadow Dancing was third. 'She might really need another race as she lacks a bit of racing experience, but it will depend upon what Sheikh Hamdan wants to do,' he said. 'This was only her third run, although you'd have to be pleased with the way she quickened up and saw out the trip.
'If we don't go to Epsom then there are plenty of races later in the year = for nice fillies like this one.' The Lupe Stakes at Goodwood in a fortnight's = time could represent the ideal opportunity for the filly to put some more miles= on the clock before next month's Epsom Classic. It could come too soon but tw= o weeks might be all right. We will have to see,' said the trainer.
'We always thought a lot of her. That's why she made her debut in what is normally a very hot maiden at Goodwood. But it was a big step up from a maiden at Beverley to this and I am very pleased with her.'
Supple, who came in for the ride through the suspension of Hamdan Al Maktoum's first-choice jockey Richard Hills, was suitably impressed. 'You couldn't ask for any more than she did today,' he said. 'I am sure Sheikh Hamdan will decide whether she is ready to go for something like the Oaks or whether he has other fillies in mind for that race.' If Hammiya is to go to Epsom, connections will have to supplement her.
The Aga Khan's filly Halawanda, on the other hand, is already entered for the Vodafone Oaks. 'I think she would appreciate a more galloping track than this - it was the first time that she had really been in a race, so she should come on for it too,' said racing manager Pat Downes.
Trainer-in-form Clive Brittain extended his purple patch in the opening Bank of Scotland Handicap as Santando did favourite-backers a good turn. Champion jockey Kieren Fallon was hard at work on the 7 to 4 chance from a long way out but the winner kept responding and just did enough to beat 20 to 1 chance Crathorne by a head.
Another trainer celebrating was Preston-based Eric Alston, who enjoyed a local success with No Grouse in the Tess Graham Memorial Handicap.
Native Scout gets the vote in this seven runner event having competed against the best novice company last winter and put up a creditable effort in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Camden Tanner is switched to fences after twice travelling to Britain for top class handicap hurdles, while Jurado Express adds further spice.
There are just four declared for the opening juvenile race, and perhaps Curragh runner-up Wathab can put his experience to good use against the Aidan O'Brien-trained newcomer Haydn (by Stravinsky).
John Murtagh has strong claims in both Flat handicaps, with Cat Five in the 12f event and Lincoln fourth Be Patient also one to the note in the following 9f race.
John Oxx's colt, who was second to Balestrini in the Ballysax Stakes on his reappearance, is one of three entries for Oxx who also has Alisar and Masandam in the race.
Alamshar could face Balestrini again here as the colt is one of 15 entries from the Aidan O'Brien yard.
The Ballydoyle stable have also entered Alberto Giacometti, who was third in the Ballysax, Brian Boru and Some Kind Of Tiger. Their strong possible challenge also includes Arundel, Catcher In The Rye, Dalcassian, Delacroix, Fontanes, France, Gianfanti, Handel, Meadow Hawk, Roosevelt and The Great Gatsby.
Dermot Weld is another to have a multiple entry, headed by Sagitta 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend. The others are Evolving Tactics, Faadhil, Miss Nashwan and Prominent Feature.
There are two British-trained entries in the race with Richard Hannon's Tacitus and Mark Johnston's Jebel Suraaj.
A total of 29 fillies have been entered for the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial.
Hannon's Summer Spice is the only British-trained entry while O'Brien again has a strong entry including Sagitta 1,000 Guineas disappointments Yesterday and L'ancresse, as well as Shangri La and In The Limelight.
Two British-trained entries could line-up in the Listed Amethyst Stakes over a mile. Paul Cole has entered Cornelius while Lincoln winner Pablo is in the race for Barry Hills.
Kieren Fallon followed up his Sagitta 1,000 Guineas success on Russian Rhythm 24 hours earlier with an 83 to 1 treble on Cape Fear, Millafonic and Topkamp at Kempton yesterday.
The last-named was arguably the most impressive of the trio, finding a telling burst in the final furlong of the EBF Fillies Conditions Stakes to overhaul Camlet.
Topkamp (5 to 2) had suffered from slow starts in previous outings, but broke on terms with her seven rivals, and then found a gap over a furlong out through which to make her challenge and nail Camlet, who had made the running, 100 yards from home.
Fallon just missed out on a four-timer when failing by a short head on 7 to 4 favourite High Point to peg back Got One Too in the concluding Rynardt Be Lucky Handicap.
Racing goes ahead at Naas where the going is soft and at Down Royal where the ground is good.
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Pat Smullen had Dermot Weld's colt handily placed towards the centre of the track just off the pace and he launched his telling bid for glory entering The Dip.
He was challenged immediately by Hurricane Alan and Tout Seul but dug deep into his reserves to repel the rivals.
His work was not over though as both Zafeen (33/1) and Norse Dancer (100/1) charged at him late but he would not be denied and lifted the Classic by three parts of a length and a head.
Aidan O'Brien's Hold That Tiger was notably weak in the market before the race and that was reflected on the track as he folded tamely when the tempo quickened.
1 Refuse To Bend (P J Smullen) 9-2 2 Zafeen (S Drowne) 33-1 3 Norse Dancer (P Robinson) 100-1
The Nashwan filly shaped well on the opening day of the Flat season at the Curragh when runner-up to Wrong Key in a mile Listed event.
She will be suited by this step up to ten furlongs having finished strongly last time, and can take this en route to a crack at the Italian Oaks.
Weld and stable jockey Pat Smullen may also be on the mark earlier in the day with Peratus in the five furlong Coolmore Spinning World Maiden.
She justified a rating of 81 when a creditable fifth to Fly Haia in a sprint handicap at Cork a fortnight ago, while Weld may also have the answer to the 5f handicap with Gold Chaser.
Follow beat all bar Miss Childrey on her debut at Cork, and Aidan O'Brien's charge looks the one to beat in the 2yo fillies maiden.
Alan Magee
All the early running had been cut out by Ted Walsh's Commanche Court but when the 9-10 favourite Sacundai moved up ominously well on the home turn, the race looked sure to be his.
Norman Williamson took up the running on the favourite but Shay Barry produced a beautifully-timed run on the Willie Mullins-trained winner approaching the last.
Holy Orders, a 6-1 shot, pinged the last and ran on strongly to deny Sacundai by half a length.
=93I just couldn't believe how he put his head down and battled so well,=94=
said Mullins.
=93I thought he'd arrived soon enough to challenge. He ran his heart out today so I don't think we will run him again tomorrow in the Champion Hurdle.
=93We might look at the French Champion Hurdle, which is over three and a quarter miles. I should have had this horse over three miles long ago.=94
Sent off the 4/11 favourite, the Champion chaser made just one mistake but sadly for his supporters, it proved to be a costly one as at the second last fence, as his error gave Barry Geraghty no chance of staying in the saddle.
Flagship Uberalles, himself the winner of the Champion Chase in 2002, had just improved to throw down a challenge when he was left clear to win for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.
Punters suffered earlier blows with the first two favourites of the afternoon crashing out under jockeys Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty.
Walsh was stood down for 48 hours after being unseated from the gambled-on 11/4 favourite Shady Lad at the second obstacle in the Kildare Hunt Club Chase over the cross country course.
He lay on the ground for some time but walked to the waiting ambulance and was taken to Nass General Hospital for x-rays on his skull and neck.
Those x-rays showed there was nothing amiss with the former Champion jockey and he was recuperating at home within two hours of his fall.
Dr Walter Halley, the Turf Club's Medical Officer, also had news of the sidelined Paul Carberry. 'He is unfit for riding and the situation will be reviewed before racing on Thursday,' he said.
The opener was won by the Ross Geraghty-ridden Native Beat who had just asserted over Clanwick Connection when that rival crashed out at the final fence.
Barry Geraghty took his first fall of the afternoon when short-priced favourite Barrow Drive hit the deck six fences from home in the 2m4f novice chase.
A heavily backed 11/10 favourite, Barrow Drive's exit eased the task of Heart Midoltian who added to his impressive success at Fairyhouse with a four length win from Paul Nicholls' Joly Bey.
Runaway Cheltenham winner Back In Front followed up in the Grade 1 novice hurdle with a two and a half length win over sole English-challenger Limerick Boy.
Back In Front bucked the trend of losing favourites when hitting the front befor e the last and running on to score in good style.
Trainer Edward O'Grady said, 'We will wait and see but I would like to run him on Friday in the Champion Hurdle.'
There was a spectacular pile-up in front of the stands in the mares bumper with no fewer than 11 horses and riders ending up on the ground.
The only reported injury was suffered by Patrick Murphy, rider of Calder River, who was taken to Naas Hospital suffering from left-sided chest injuries and mid-back pain. He will undergo a full x-ray investigation this evening.
Blue Away, the only runner out of the handicap in the 2m4f hurdle, prevailed in a tight finish to win from Horner Rocks and Formal Bid.
Backed from 20/1 to 14/1, the 5yo won by a head to give trainer Pat Hughes his second successive win in the race.
Kieran Kelly and Dessie Hughes combined to win an eventful 28-runner handicap chase with Whats The Score. Only 11 finished the race.
There are eight declared for this two mile Grade 1 test, and Moscow Flyer is sure to start at short odds following his impressive Queen Mother Champion Chase success at Cheltenham.
Jessica Harrington's stablestar is opposed again by Flagship Uberalles and Latalomne, while the Martin Pipe-trained Tresor de Mai completes the British challenge.
The Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle is the other Grade 1 event of the afternoon, and it also supplies a hot favourite with Back In Front.
The 6yo looked something special in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and should have little difficulty extending his winning sequence against Aintree victor Limerick Boy.
The jackpot pool is guaranteed for €60,000, and the other two legs will be tough to solve with Greywell suggested in the 2m4f handicap hurdle and On The Hour in the valuable fillies bumper. Alan Magee
The decision comes following the commotion surrounding a meeting at Listowel earlier this month.
Listowel's management gave the going as good to yielding when it proved to be good to firm the following day, resulting in a record number of non-runners and a complaint from the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association.
Desmond said: 'The Association has taken great offence at the implication contained in the Turf Club statement that only the Grade 1 tracks are capable of issuing accurate going reports.
'There is absolutely no justification for implying that all the managers of the other 18 tracks are not competent to issue accurate going reports and we would expect an immediate retraction.
'The introduction of the new procedures without any detailed consultation was also somewhat disappointing. We have written to the stewards to express our dissatisfaction and to seek an urgent meeting to discuss the issues involved.'
Dermot Weld stressed yesterday that he was in no rush to decide about the unbeaten colt's next start.
Refuse To Bend is a 7 to 1 third favourite for the Guineas on Saturday week but after his winning return at Leopardstown, Weld said the horse could instead take the Derby Trial route in the Derrinstown.
'He is in great form and the race the last day seems to have helped him. But we are not even close to a decision. There's no hurry and we probably won't decide until a few days before the Guineas.
'It will depend on several factors including the make up of the race and the ground,' Weld said yesterday.
There were no hints at yesterday's final forfeit stage with all the big guns well represented, including Aidan O'Brien, who has the 7 to 4 favourite Hold That Tiger.
O'Brien has left in six others in the Guineas, including Tomahawk, Catcher In The Rye and Delacroix. Godolphin have five left including the 6 to 1 second favourite Lateen Sails.
The overseas challenge for the Punchestown festival highlight gathered more momentum yesterday with confirmation that Young Spartacus will run in the a160,000 Heineken Gold Cup.
The Henry Daly-trained star, winner of the Mildmay Of Flete at the Cheltenham festival after a 14 month lay-off, will be having his first start in Grade One company.
'He will run as long as the ground is not too fast. He has come out of Cheltenham very well and didn't run there last week because they hadn't had enough rain.
'It's always a worry stepping up in class but I haven't got much choice. He has to go to Punchestown,' Daly said yesterday of the 2001 Racing Post Trophy winner.
The veteran See More Business and First Gold from France are other likely starters in Wednesday's feature and Hussard Collonges from Peter Beaumont's Yorkshire yard also looks like travelling.
'The ground must be a fair bit softer than good but we're hoping he can run,' said Beaumont.
His wish appears likely to come true with the ground at the Co Kildare track currently 'good' after 9mms of rain fell on Monday.
The Punchestown director of racing, Richie Galway, said: 'We are expecting about three quarters of an inch more by the weekend and the weather is set to be unsettled over the weekend and on the run in to the festival.
'If the rain arrives I would expect the ground next week to be on the softer side of good.' British trained horses won the Heineken Gold Cup three years in a row from 1996-98 with Billygoat Gruff, Noyan and Mahler.
Tipperary hosts a mixed card this afternoon and there will be plenty of interest in the first start of Newton in the opener.
The Danehill colt was put forward by Aidan O'Brien recently as a juvenile to look out for and this pacey sort should be up to winning first time out.
In the following mile and a half handicap, Kate Emily could be the one to be on having come up against the potentially well handicapped Mr Wong at Cork.
Styler was noted running on well behind Seaforde at Leopardstown and despite top weight in the nine-furlong handicap she looks worth an interest. Barry Geraghty may yet again be the man to follow over the jumps with good looking rides on Noble Shift and Mister Kilford. Brian O'Connor
2.30 SOUTH WEST NINE - Stable in form and a promising effort last time.
3.00 FENELLA'S LINK - Maidens from this yard must always be respected.
3.30 STYLER (NAP) - Ran well at Leopardstown and stands out on form.
4.00 SAN DIEGO - Only a guess in a terrible race.
4.30 DERAWAR - An eyecatcher at Wexford last time with little to beat here.
5.00 TREVERAGH - Jockey booking should be highly significant.
5.30 MAJESTICMANOEUVERS - A rare bumper runner from these quarters.
The opened their book on the race today and they have Francois Doumen's French challenger First Gold next best at 5-1.
Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup third Harbour Pilot is 7-1 for the three mile, one furlong event along with Native Upmanship.
See More Business is the best-priced cross-channel challenger for the April 30th event, being offered at 10-1.
Heineken Cup:
5-4 Beef Or Salmon, 5-1 First Gold, 7-1 Harbour Pilot, Native Upmanship, 10-1 Colonel Braxton, Commanche Court, See More Business, 14-1 Florida Pearl, 20-1 Rince Ri, 33-1 More Than A Stroll
Odds courtesy of Cashmans
The first of seven races gets underway at 2.30pm with seven facing the starter for the opening day highlight, the Dan Moore Memorial Chase over 2m1f.
Sure to be run at a good clip given the underfoot conditions, Alcapone gets the vote to come out on top at the expense of Knife Edge and Artic Copper.
Oliver McKiernan, who has engaged British champion Tony McCoy for Winning Dream in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National on Monday, is represented with Star Performance in the 2m6f beginners chase.
Rated 117 over the larger obstacles he is taken to open his account at the expense of Saddlers Mark and Lord Edwards Army.
The concluding winners bumper promises to be a lively betting heat and the outcome may rest with the Willie Mullins-trained Royal Alphabet, who disappointed somewhat when only 10th behind Liberman in the bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
Partnered by Wexford-native Jimmy Fortune, the 9/1 chance stormed to a one and a half length success over outsider, Lundy's Lane with favourite, Saturn only managing fourth.
The victorious son of Mukaddamah proved successful up the Curragh twice last season, easily taking the Goffs Challenge and he made all when stepped up in class in the listed Aga Khan Studs Blenheim Stakes.
This win represents another shrewd investment on the part of Peter Doyle who purchased Hurricane Alan as a yearling for a mere 13,000 guineas.
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The Cheshire Oaks is on the agenda for Jakarta Jade after making it two wins from as many outings this term in the EBF Fillies Race. 'I brought her here to see if she gets the trip, and she'll now take her chance at Chester,' said Kevin Prendergast following a hard-earned victory.
Ebatana was the well-supported odds-on favourite in this mile and a half event, and Fran Berry elected to try and make all. However she was unable to find any extra when headed by Jakarta Jade a furlong out, and McDonogh's mount was driven right out to hold off Crimphill by half a length with Final Opinion staying on well the same distance back in third.
McDonogh gave Open Handed a strong ride in the concluding 7f handicap, leading close home on the Eddie Lynam-trained 14/1 chance to touch off Lucky Largo.
There was drama on the way to the start of the two-year-old maiden when Michael Kinane parted company with Devil Moon after the 4/7 favourite was spooked by telephone wires running across the racetrack. The champion was certainly shaken by the incident but soon reunited with the Aidan O'Brien-trained youngster, who finished strongly to peg back De Tiger and Chained Emotion in a three-way photo.
'He was very green first time at Cork, and Mick said that he saw the telephone wires that run across the track and ducked under them. He would appreciate better ground,' said O'Brien.
Flamelet surprised trainer John Oxx when making a winning debut in the Junction Race, just holding off the renewed challenge of Plume Rouge by a head. 'She is a leggy, light filly and we have not asked her to do that much at home. She ran around a bit in the last 100 yards but did everything right up to that. We will see what sort of handicap mark she will get, and will try to get her some black type,' said Oxx.
There was an even bigger shock in the fillies maiden where Sissy Slew, 25/1 but paid 70.20 for a win on the To te, made a successful debut under Pat Shanahan. Dermot Weld's charge struck the front at the furlong pole, and just prevailed by a fast diminishing short-head from Bernhardt.
Curragh trainer Jim Gorman sent out his third winner of the new campaign when Fair Replacement took the sprint handicap under Tadhg O'Shea. The five-year-old gelding led over a furlong out and held on by a neck from Musical World. 'He likes an ease in the ground, and seems to be quite versatile distance wise,' said Gorman.
