< Eagle's Pass put himself in line for another crack at the Galway Hurdle with an impressive victory in the Ulster Bank Mallow Hurdle.
Thomond O'Mara's six-year-old, third to Farmer Brown in the big race last season, was sent off a 4-1 shot and was always travelling sweetly under Paddy Flood.
Hot favourite Rathmore Castle jumped ahead six out and made the best of his way home, but Eagle's Pass picked him off between the final two flights and had him well beaten when he stepped through the last and ditched Mick Darcy.
Eagle's Pass went on to beat Oodachee by two lengths, with the smart Accordion Etoile proving a major disappointment as he was beaten a long way out.< Ireland's Call won for the first time since landing five on the bounce two years ago when he took the Kostal Ireland GmbH Handicap.
The Peter Casey-trained grey (5-1) had signalled a return to the winner's enclosure was imminent with a promising third on his seasonal bow, and he was always close to the pace set by Pyrenees
In fact nothing else got into the race as Declan McDonogh drove the seven-year-old into the lead a furlong and a half out and came clear to beat the front-runner by four and a half lengths.
The well-backed Irish Heartbeat (3-1) built on the promise of his Curragh debut fourth to take the Hibernian Hotel Maiden in the hands of Willie Supple.
David Myerscough's charge got a nice run up the rail in the straight as Soul Murmur took over in front from the pacesetting Rio Grando and when pulled out to deliver a challenge the response was decisive.
Irish Heartbeat ran on really well to beat Soul Murmur by two and a half lengths, with Prince Igor staying on to grab third spot without ever being a threat.< Rebel Aclaim (16-1) broke her duck at the 13th attempt when making all to win the Dermot Casey Plant Hire & Tree Care Handicap.
With the rain pouring down, Ben Curtis set off in front on Paul Cashman's filly and she stretched clear of her closest puruers coming down the straight before holding the late surge of Jack Travers by half
© www.irish-racing.com
