Comeback kid Darceys Dancer maintained Noel Meade's outstanding run of form with a feisty triumph at Fairyhouse.
Having shown next to nothing in six starts, the Michael Bailey-owned gelding's career was in the balance.
But a promising run at Gowran, where he finished third, convinced his trainer that all was not lost.
And so it proved as Paul Carberry's mount gained a discernible lead entering the straight and stayed on well to defeat Good Old Thyme by four lengths.
Meade said of the 3-1 shout: "We were about to call it quits with Darceys Dancer until he ran well at Gowran the last day, when he received a few cracks from Barry Geraghty and flew home to take third.
"The blinkers probably woke him up at Gowran, too, and hopefully he can improve again.
"He didn't go on heavy ground in the past but maybe he might now that he has hit form & ndash; he is from the same family as Strong Run and Leading Run."
The blinkers also worked the oracle for Not To Know (8-1) who secured a first victory since last September in the Gymboree At Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle.
Trainer Tom McCourt said: "Not To Know is a very odd character and blinkers seemed to have made a big difference to him.
"He seems more straightforward in them. We'll go for something similar again next."< Whos To Know won the opening Winter Festival 2009 Mares Maiden Hurdle, while Here Comes Sally gained a deserved success in the Bobbyjo Bistro Mares Beginners Chase.< Trotsky (16-1) then stole the show in the www.fairyhouseracecourse.ie Handicap Chase.
The tough veteran defied his welter burden to defeat Information by a head in a thrilling finish.
Eoin Griffin's Lucky Wish then got in on the act by justifying 9-4 favouritism in the Ballybin Beginners Chase.
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