The first new racecourse in Ireland for 51 years opened its gates at Greenmount, about five miles south of Limerick city, with the Michael Punch & Partners Munster National the highlight on a seven race National Hunt card.
A crowd of 18,000 packed the impressive stand to see Foxchapel King put up a fine weight carrying performance in the £50,000 feature.
David Casey sent the eight-year-old gelding to the front with over a circuit to run and, despite the burden of 12 stone, kept on strongly to beat the well-backed pair Super Franky and Monty`s Pass by five lengths and half a length.
Winning trainer Mouse Morris indicated afterwards that Sir Tony O`Reilly`s gelding will head next either for the Jim Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal or bid for a repeat win in the Intervet Trophy at Cheltenham.
As expected, Golden Row provided local trainer Charles Byrnes with a convincing victory in the Newenham Mulligan Novice Hurdle.
The seven-year-old cruised to the front forPhilip O`Brien in the straight to beat Mona Day by five-and a-half lengths, and will bid to add to his winning sequence in the For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan next month. Cashmans make him their 9/1 favourite at this early stage for the 2002 Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Michael Hourigan, who trains locally at Patrickswell and saddled his first ever winner with Ramrahja at the old course in Greenpark 22 years ago, was appropriately on the mark when saddling a 1-2 in the handicap hurdle with Knockawad (Paul Carberry) and Dromhale Lady.
Edward O`Grady saddled the first winner at Greenmount when Rain In Spain stayed on best on the run-in under Norman Williamson to take the Finucane Electrical Maiden Hurdle.
'It`s a great thrill to win the first race here, and I hope the track is a great success. I had a great association with the old course at Greenpark, and in the past with Greenmount as a point-to-point venue', said O`Grady, while Williamson described the track as 'riding fast with good sweeping bends'.
Istabraq added to the carnival atmosphere among the large attendance when parading in the ring before the second race.
