< Aran Concerto put up a battling performance to take the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in a thrilling finish.
The 7-2 chance jumped well and was close up turning for home, where long-time leader Deutschland was still in front, and he came through to challenge for the Grade One prize at the last.
There were others in with chances there, too, but Aran Concerto responded to Paul Carberry's urgings to get home by a short head from Barker with Deutschland third.
The winner has spent a long time on the sidelines and clearly has bags of talent, but Noel Meade reported that he finished lame, though he later indicated it was not as bad as first feared.< Kempes got back to winning way after disappointing at Cheltenham by landing the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins.
Ruby Walsh settled the six-year-old in third and had leader Dundrum in his sights as they approached the final flight in the Grade Two contest.
Dundrum ran on well, but Kempes (13-8 favourite) had enough in the locker and forged past to score by two lengths with a little in hand.
The Walsh-Mullins team put a second winner on the scoreboard when Uimhiraceathair overpowered the opposition in some style in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle.
The 5-1 favourite, making his handicap bow, arrived late but with plenty left in the tank and soon put the race to bed, winning by a comfortable four lengths.
Walsh completed a personal treble when Aggie's Lad (3-1) took it up near the last and cleared away to win the Ryan's Cleaning Specialist Beginners Chase by three and a half lengths for Tony Martin.< Shirley Casper ran out a convincing winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle to ring up an early double for the Dessie Hughes yard.
Barry Geraghty was always well-placed on the eight-year-old, who was travelling well when she took charge after jumping the second-last in the Grade Three contest.
The 8-1 shot bounded away on the run-in and was not troubled to hold the staying-on Alpine Glade by three lengths
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