Smile Later pounced late to land the spoils in dramatic fashion in the feature event at Galway on Sunday.
The Francis Flood-trained mare wore down Coin Man on the line to take the 37,000 Smirnoff Handicap Chase, under promising claimer Shane Hassett.
Trainer Flood was continuing a long association with owning Corrigan family having also trained the dam and grand-dam of the winner.
'The ground coming hard was a big help for us but even in the last 50 yards I couldn't see her winning,' admitted trainer's son Fran afterwards.
Galway Plate third Cool Running made a winning return to Ballybrit when taking the novice chase.
Tony McCoy sent his mount to the front after the fifth last. Pacolet looked a danger approaching the final fence but a bad mistake put paid to his chances.
The Christy Roche-trained 8/11f stayed on stoutly to the line to run out a convincing five-and-a-half length winner from Corrieann.
'That was grand. He jumped away grand, although a bit left and big at times, but he did it nicely,' said JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.
'We'll find another one for him and he'll stick to novices. The ground was as fast as he would like it - he prefers it good.'
Dbest produced a game front-running performance to land the two-mile handicap hurdle under John Cullen.
Joanna's Morgan's charge saw off the challenge of Dark Bolero before the last and kept on well to record a length verdict.
'He loves being in front. At home when he's allowed to gallop out in front Nijinsky wouldn't beat him!' said Morgan.
My Valley also made every post a winning one when making an impressive jumping debut in the maiden hurdle.
Pat Fahy's mare is becoming something of a course specialist and was adding to her two Flat wins at the festival when scoring by a cosy five-lengths from Life For Rent.
'She's only schooled at home and has never jumped a racecourse hurdle. In the circumstances I thought that was a great performance,' said Fahy.
'We're leaning towards running in the Cesarewitch but she may not get in to the handicap. She could also come back here in October.'
Noble Prize made up for missing the festival meeting when claiming the opening novice hurdle for Dessie Hughes and Nicky O'Shea.
'That's his ground. He had a little setback before the big meeting here but the break probably did him good,' said Hughes.
Caman Swinger made the most of getting in as reserve in the 2m4f handicap hurdle while Putney Bridge got up in the closing stages to make a winning debut in the bumper.
