Backed into 8/13 favouritism, the eight-year-old travelled strongly throughout under Paul Townend, coasted alongside Woodland Opera going to the second last and, in command before the final obstacles, drew clear to score impressively by eight lengths, with Arctic Fire, having his first run for Denis Cullen and returning after a lengthy break, staying on to be third, just a half-length back.

The winner, watched by English owner Nigel King, was following-up a similarly easy win at Ballinrobe last time.

Townend admitted: “She’s turned inside out this year. She got a lot of experience in good races last year and it has stood to her. She has developed a lot too and there are plenty more races to be won with her. I’d say she’ll jump a fence at some stage.”

Patrick Mullins’ strength in the saddle proved crucial in the bumper as 5/2 joint-favourite Koroleva fought back bravely to foil Pike County by a half-length to complete a double for Closutton.

“The lads (the Pat Hayes Racing Syndicate) leased her after she got injured in Listowel last year,” explained Patrick. “She’s quite highly-strung and we’re training her a bit differently. But she settled better today and appreciated the flat track.”

He added, “That leaves me on 544 winners, one short of Ted Walsh’s record, so I need two more to beat it.”

The opening maiden hurdles produced shocks, the opening Doneraile GAA Goes Racing Maiden Hurdle going, in emphatic style, to 33/1 shot Bolbec, trained for Barry Connell by Alan Fleming and brought from off the pace to master Uncle Henry by Denis O’Regan.

Having only his second start, the J J Slevin-ridden Howth Summit landed the Whitechurch GAA Goes Racing Maiden Hurdle for in-form Joseph O’Brien, getting the better of Bensachuine by a length and prompting the winning rider to explain: “He improved a lot from his first run and is a grand stamp of a horse. He jumped very well, except for the last, and I suppose he did well to get going after the mistake. He’ll jump a fence in time.”

O’Brien and Slevin completed a double when Glocca Mora, a four-year-old Fame And Glory gelding, bought for €100,000 at the Goffs Land Rover Sale last year, relished the step-up to three miles in the Mallowprint.com Maiden Hurdle, holding the late challenge of Shetland Bus by a neck.

Slevin stated: “He’s a good, hardy horse, only a four-year-old and the three miles brought improvement in him.”

It was a good day for trainer Gavin Cromwell, currently at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale in Newmarket. He shared a Downpatrick double with Ger Fox as Political Policy followed-up his maiden success in Bellewstown by landing the BMG Insurance Hurdle and Aasleagh Dawn captured the ITBA Mares maiden Hurdle.

Cromwell completed a notable across-the-card treble when top-weight Ejayteekay, ridden by Robbie Colgan, bolted-up in Cork’s Fermoy GAA Goes Racing Handicap Hurdle.

But it was Gordon Elliott who took the training honours at the northern venue, completing a treble with Youghal By The Sea, Touch Base and Present In Court for three very different owners.

Davy Russell suggested: “It’s one of the most important winners I’ve ever ridden,” after landing the maiden hurdle on even-money favourite Youghal By The Sea, owned and bred by his father Jerry.

Mark Walsh partnered the J P McManus-owned favourite Touch Base to a gutsy win in the Joe Rea Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

And it was Lisa O’Neill who made all on Present In Court in the bumper, a rare Downpatrick winner for Qatar Racing.

Elliott completed a memorable day when Mill Quest, followed-up a win at Limerick last Sunday by bolting-up in the Battle Of The GAA Clubs Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Ridden by Jack Kennedy and dropping back from three miles to two and a half, she pulverise the opposition, drawing clear from the second last to score by ten lengths from Something Sweet, to the delight of the local Coolglen Syndicate.

Mill Quest, formerly trained by Terence O’Brien and having just her third run for Elliott here, is declared for Limerick today and could well make a quick reappearance before the handicapper gets hold of her.