Tony McCoy returns to the winners' enclosure on Sir Scorpion© Photo Healy Racing
The Tony McCoy-ridden Sir Scorpion recorded a highly popular success when taking the Gleesons Butchers Novice Handicap Hurdle in dramatic fashion.
The three-day Easter meeting is likely to be the final time McCoy will ride in Ireland before retiring later this month, and racegoers were queuing up afterwards for the multiple champion's autograph following a typically gritty performance in the saddle.
It appeared that Joseph O'Brien may be set to record his first winner over hurdles as Marchese Marconi struck the front after two out.
The top-weight still held a slight advantage when making a mistake and unseating O'Brien at the final flight.
This left Lilshane briefly in front but McCoy galvanised the well-backed 6/4 favourite to strike the front, and he kept on best to score by a length and a quarter.
Lilshane held off Solita by a head for the runner-up spot.
McCoy said, "I thought he'd a good chance going out. Slippers (Niall Madden) got an easy lead (on O'Donoghue's Opera , and they are quite testing conditions. He took time to pick up, and hopefully he'll improve for the experience."
Winning trainer Tom Mullins said, "He sweated up a lot at the start, and we'll have to see how he comes out of this before thinking about Punchestown. Tony said he'll stay further."
McCoy later completed a memorable double when taking the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase aboard Gilgamboa
