Two new kids on the block stole the show at Sligo on Tuesday night.
10lb claimers Martin Harley and Paul Townend both partnered the second winners of their careers only days after registering their breakthrough successes on the same horses.
Harley treated the crowd to a flying dismount after Proud Ruler ran out a cosy six-length winner of the opener.
The Niall Moran-trained gelding had few problems defying a 5lb penalty for an easy victory at Down Royal on Sunday, hitting the lead early in the straight and staying on strongly to take command.
'He's an old head on young shoulders,' said Moran of the 17-year-old Letterkenny lad afterwards.
The winner will not be rushed back to action again after the success: ' We'll take our time with him. He's a seven-year-old that hasn't had much racing as he's had a few little problems. We'll see what the handicapper does with him.'
Townend renewed his association with The Chip Chopman after their success at Limerick on Friday night and the Seamus O'Donnell-trained gelding was rewarded for his determination in the mile-and-a-half handicap.
High Diving looked set for success when skipping clear before the turn but started to tie up close home and The Chip Chopman asserted in the last 100 yards to record a two-and-a-half length victory.
The winner was completing a quick hat-trick and O'Donnell said: 'That's fair going and we'll give him a break now. We'll find a little hurdle race for him - he's a right little horse.'
'He knows how to win the kid on his back! You'll be writing plenty about him. He's a serious rider and has some racing brain. Claiming 10lb made all the difference.'
Denis Hogan landed both maiden hurdles on the card courtesy of Indian Love and Knockieran.
The Paul Cashman-trained Indian Love led her rivals a merry dance in the first maiden hurdle but had to dig deep in the straight as she tired, holding the challenge of Darla Rose by a length-and-three-quarters.
Hogan put the race to bed quickly in the Martinstown sponsored event as Knockieran swooped into the lead before the second last.
Jimmy Finn's charge stayed on strongly to record a 13-length success over Laura's Light.
'She's a genuine little mare and was a bit unlucky not to pick up a bumper,' said Finn. 'We'll go for a novice hurdle around a small track if we can. She's a small little mare but she has a big heart.'
Platinum Starlight made virtually all and stayed on gamely in the straight under Billy Lee to land the claimer. Fourth-placed Major Title was claimed for just over 36,000.
5/2f Western Devil was well backed in the morning and stayed on strongly on the run-in to get up in the last 100 yards for a two-length success in the amateur riders' handicap hurdle.
