The opening Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Claiming Race went to the James Barrett-trained Howling Wolf (4/1, from 8s in the morning).

Rory Cleary tracked the leaders on the Footstepsinthesand gelding before driving him through a gap which opened up over a furlong from home.

The 4-year-old hit the front well inside the final furlong and at the line was a length ahead of the 9/4 favourite Big Challenge with another half a length back to Will Be King (25/1) in third.

It was a second career success for the blinkered winner, who beat none other than subsequent Irish Derby winner Santiago in a maiden at Leopardstown as a two-year-old when in the care of Tony Mullins.

Cleary said: "He was in off a nice weight (in for the minimum claiming price of E5,000) and had a very good run the last day (fourth in a course and distance handicap).

"He settled really well and travelled into it good and easy and was honest and brave for me. He quickened well to the line.

"He is a real syndicate horse and you'd have a lot of fun with him."

There wasa total of 31 claims made for four horses, with the winner being claimed for E5,000 by John N Keogh to be trained by Shane Duffy.

The runner-up Big Challenge (E15,000) was the subject of a friendly claim, third home Will Be King (E12,000) was claimed by trainer John McConnell for himself, and fourth place finisher Collaborating was claimed for E6,000 by trainer Patrick Neville for himself.

Quotes from Thomas Weekes