Adriana Des Mottes (far side) lands alongside Rule The World at the final fence© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins' Grade One-winning hurdler Adriana Des Mottes came out best in a thrilling finish to the Boylesports Irish Grand National At Fairyhouse Beginners Chase.
The four-year-old filly (2-1) was getting all the allowances on her introduction to the bigger obstacles at the County Meath track and looked to be going best nearing the final fence alongside the smart Rule The World
But she was nothing like as slick over the obstacle and lost the advantage, having to dig deep to regain it late on to shade the verdict by a nose under David Casey.< Couleur France recorded the second success of his career when he proved too good for a field packed with winners in the Irish Racing Yearbook Rated Novice Hurdle.
Noel Meade's six-year-old (7-2 joint-favourite) found plenty to forge clear of Mr Diablo and score by eight lengths in the hands of Ger Fox, who was standing in for the injured Paul Carberry.
The jockey missed another winner when Robbie Colgan stepped in on the Colm Murphy-trained Mister Hotelier in the rich HB Dennis Land Rover Handicap Chase, the 5-1 shot snatching the prize by half a length after leader Sraid Padraig made a bad error at the last.
Mags Mullins picked up the day's other valuable prize when Princess Leya (16-1) led all the way to dominate the Roy Evans/Barry Geraghty Golf Classic Handicap Hurdle, finishing 12 lengths clear in the hands of the trainer's son Danny.
Sandra Hughes sent out her first winner since the death of her father Dessie when 5-4 favourite Sub Lieutenant dismissed his rivals in the first division of the Happy 80th Birthday Peter Donnelly Maiden Hurdle under Bryan Cooper.
The jockey doubled up in the Gigginstown colours on Tony Martin's Marinero (10-1) in the second division, while Mark Walsh always travelled sweetly but then had to work hard to land the Hire2K Handicap Hurdle on Tom Taaffe's 3-1 favourite Peoples Park
