Niall Madden's smart jumper Wins Now notched his second victory over fences with an emphatic success in the Thanks To Race Sponsors 2009 Chase at Ballinrobe.
There were some decent sorts in the two-and-three-quarter-mile contest, but it boiled down to a duel between 5-2 joint-favourite Wins Now and market rival Changing Course as they went clear approaching the second-last.
Mark Walsh always looked to be going the better in the JP McManus colours and his mount only had to be ridden out to win by six lengths from the long-time leader.
Baron De'L recorded his seventh career victory but his first away from the 10-furlong track at the Curragh when he took the Ballinrobe Race Committee Maiden Hurdle under Andrew McNamara.
Eddie Harty's six-year-old (5-2), who showed smart form over timber last winter, was given a real fight by market rival Whispering Wind and the pair were locked together from nearing the last flight until Baron De'L edged clear by three-quarters of a length.< Port La Chaine returned from a break of over four months to win the Coranna Restaurant Beginners Chase on his second start over the bigger obstacles.
There wasn't much between Arthur Moore's 12-1 shot and Jewel Of The West jumping the last two fences, but Sonny Carey drove his mount ahead on the run-in to win by a length.
The Dessie Hughes-trained Quidem Meus (8-1) was a ready winner of the first division of the Tote Placepot Races 1 To 6 Maiden Hurdle under Ian McCarthy, taking charge on the long run to the last flight and coasting in by four lengths.
Michael Mulvany's Down The Dale sprung a 40-1 shock in the second division, leaving his previous form behind to take command between the last two flights for a three-length success in the hands of Andrew Lynch.< No Stopping Sarah won at Ballinrobe in June and got her head in front for the first time since on her return to the track for the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle.
Pat Fahy's mare (11-2) travelled well for Paul Townend and took it up after the second-last before striding cle
