Clear Flat championship leader Johnny Murtagh got back to winning ways when partnering Noplacelikehome to take the featured seven furlongs conditions race.
Murtagh, now on the 47 winner mark for the year, missed a few days after a fall at Wexford last Friday and was teaming up again with the Tom Mullins-trained gelding who was part of a four-timer for the rider here nine days ago.
The well-backed 4/1 chance quickened up nicely inside the final quarter mile to beat Million Waves by a length and a quarter.
'That was an ideal race for him after last week being for three-year-olds only. Johnny said that he's improving but the ground was as fast as he would like it,' said Mullins.
Murtagh also played a part in the success of Cool Touch, trained by Peter Casey and ridden by his son Oliver, in the extended nine furlongs handicap.
The Marju gelding, also well backed from 5/2 to 7/4 favourite, led off the home turn and had a bit in hand when beating Sweet Spot by a length and a half.
'That's the fifth winner from five foals out of the dam. Johnny advised us to step him up in distance and I'd say he'd have no trouble going a mile and a half,' said the successful trainer and breeder.
Danak (9/4-7/4) made a winning debut under Michael Kinane in the 7f maiden, pulling clear with the odds-on Striking in the straight before the former prevailed by a neck.
'He's a lovely little horse who had some growing up problems. He's always been racy, acts well on fast ground and won't go beyond a mile for the moment. We'll try to find a conditions race,' said John Oxx.
Paul Nolan has his string in great form at present and Square Ball added to the Wexford yard's tally when taking the handicap hurdle under Denis O'Regan.
The 2/1 fav is owned by Nolan's enthusiastic farrier David O'Connell, who was joined by a big group of friends in the winners enclosure, and lost ground by drifting left at the final hurdle before beating Fivestar Alstars by 1 1/2L.
'He wants fast ground and will probably go for the valuable two and a quarter miles handicap hurdle at the end of the week at Galway,' said Nolan's brother James.
The Michael O'Brien-trained Barati (8/11fav) landed the odds under Andrew Lynch in the maiden hurdle, leading two out for a two lengths verdict over Dark Bolero.
'He's entered at Killarney next week and I'd say he'll go,' said O'Brien's assistant Denis Cullen, who added, 'I'd like to see him jump fences as he has plenty of scope and a good eye for jumping.'
Punters were again in the money after the bumper where newcomer Forafewdollarsmore, ridden by Nina Carberry for Noel Meade, stayed on best in the straight to beat The Black Lion by 3L.
On a tough evening for the layers, the Harry Rogers-trained Poppyfield provided the only respite when causing a 20/1 (paid over 50/1 on the Tote) shock in the mile handicap.
The photo-finish print showed that Willie Supple's mount had just touched off Damasque by the slimmest of margins.
Alan Magee
