< Apple's Jade suffered a shock reverse on her debut for Gordon Elliott as she was reeled in by Rashaan in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.
Apple's Jade was second in the Triumph Hurdle before landing Grade Ones at Aintree and Punchestown, and was a 1-2 chance to open her account for the season here.
She made most of the running, but the alarm bells were ringing as Colin Kidd's 10-1 chance Rashaan finished strongly to get up under Sean Flanagan and score by a length and a half.< Airlie Beach showed plenty of determination to come out on top in the Grade Three EBF Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novice Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh was happy to make all on the 4-6 favourite and though Shattered Love was always pestering the Willie Mullins-trained mare, she stuck to her task well to score by half a length.
Walsh had earlier struck when Monbeg Notorious could be considered a lucky winner of the Eventsec Maiden Hurdle.
Elliott's 8-11 favourite was always being niggled along by Walsh, whereas Barry Geraghty was motionless aboard stablemate The Storyteller as he edged ahead at the second-last.
The Storyteller fell at that obstacle, though, and Monbeg Notorious was able to fend off Moulin A Vent by a length and a half.
Elliott made it a double for himself when handicap debutant Wolfslair (9-2 favourite) won the Allianz Handicap Hurdle under David Mullins.
Elliott and Walsh combined again to make it a treble for both of them as A Toi Phil took the Porter And Co Beginners Chase.
Though never really finding it easy, the 4-5 favourite had enough in the tank to score by four and a half lengths from Art Of Payroll
Elliott bagged his fourth winner on the card when the Keith Donohue-ridden Realt Mor (7-1) travelled all over his rivals in the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.
