Two false starts and a five minute delay after Rapid Response unseated rider and ran loose, made for a lively prelude to the AXA Smart Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan. Connections of last year’s fifth placer The Big Lense were happy when all was said and done as he went a few places better.

The saddle on the second, Waitnsee may have slipped back, but that shouldn’t take from an impressive training performance from the Cullentra team with the 20/1 scorer.

He hadn’t run since falling in the Galway Plate nearly a year ago. However Denise Foster had J P McManus’ eight-year-old cherry ripe, and Jody McGarvey got him home by three parts of a length.

Irish Grand National winner and 2020 hero of the hour here, Freewheelin Dylan had to settle for sixth this evening.

“I’m delighted for Jody who has been riding out of his skin and gave him a great ride," said Mrs Foster.

“He’s had a little problem and needed time off, but we have been aiming at this race for a while. Hopefully he comes out of this race well and I’m sure the Plate will be in the plans again.”

For his part McGarvey reflected: “They have gone a good honest gallop all the way and he’s travelled all the way.

“He came alive around the third last. He’s had a few jumping errors in the past and rubbed a few on his way around today but he’s got cute enough and can look after himself.

“He fell in the Plate last year but was still going well at the time. He travelled well today and going back a few furlongs would be no problem to him.”

(AM & EM)