The 1m 5f maiden lived up to it's billing as the most interesting race on a mixed card. Three horses were expected to dominate here, namely Monsieur Henri, Aracena and Fedorova.
Sustained support for Crossing saw her go off a 4/1 shot from at least double those odds in the morning but she couldn't match the other three who finished first, second and third.
Monsieur Henri came here on the back of an 11th placing, beaten around 15L in the Irish Derby and John Hayden's charge was put up 6Ibs to a rating of 85 for that effort. He duly justified the hike.
Making all under Johnny Murtagh, the half-brother to Dr Brendler, a Listed winner for this yard in 2001 and later a Grade 2 victor in the States, comfortably beat Aracena by 1L.
More Votes was the one for money in the shops in the morning for the h'cap but on course Tango Foxtrot was popular (7/2 into 2/1 favourite) and the pair went on to fill the first two places.
Pat Smullen led approaching the straight on Tango Foxtrot and Willie Mullins' gelding was soon clear, holding off the unlucky in running More Votes by 3/4L.
Local trainer John White had a welcome change of fortune in the opener when Gypsy Lord under Martin Ferris got the better of favourite, Templelusk by 3/4L.
A grey, like his dam, Cullenstown Lady, a six time winner in the 1990s for Pat Hughes, this son of Lord Americo was deservedly opening his account at the 14th attempt.
Davy Russell, rider of the runner-up there, was back in business half-an-hour later courtesy of the well-backed market-leader, Babyshan.
Nicely-supported in morning trading, and from 5/2 into 9/4 on track, Philip Fenton's mare overcame trouble in running to beat Twilight Breeze by a 1/2L.
Gareth Power, trainer of the 3rd-placed Charming Hymn there, didn't have long to dwell on that disappointment as he sent out the 2nd winner of his career just 30 minutes after.
Better known in his capacity as an amateur rider, Arctic Passage from Power's Co. Kilkenny base easily beat Rugged Man by 1 1/2L under Sean McDermott in the Martinstown Opportunity H'cap Hurdle.
His previous success had come with the same horse at Tralee in August 2003. That day he also rode the Arctic Lord gelding, losing the right to claim seven.
Given that she held the second highest rating in the race, Scolboa Pennyroyal was returned at the big odds of 20/1 for the claiming race, rewarding her backers with a 3/4L win.
In the hands of Billy Lee for Sean Treacy in the colours of his wife Geraldine, the daughter of Mull Of Kintyre was claimed back by her trainer.
Alabama Banjo, 8th on his debut on soft to heavy ground back in November, appreciated the better surface when taking the bumper for Pat Flynn and Kevin Power.
A second winner in five days for Flynn, for Power it helped eclipse the memory of his ride on the ill-fated August last evening at Limerick.
