Imperial Shabra leads over the last at Galway© Photo Healy Racing
< Imperial Shabra put up a superb front-running display to take the feature Deacy Gilligan Novice Chase at Galway.
The betting suggested the 14-1 chance might struggle against the likes of evens favourite Laganbank and market rival Lord Ben but Oliver Brady's eight-year-old jumped well all the way round and had plenty in the tank for the long run-in.
Lord Ben chased Imperial Shabra hard after the final fence, but Ryan Treacy kept him going even though he drifted out to the right, and it was Laganbank who took second late on, four and three-quarter lengths adrift.< Missunited has been winning on the level and she returned to jumps racing with a cosy victory in the Easyfix Rubber Products Novice Hurdle.
Bryan Cooper set off in front on the Michael Winters-trained mare, who had Zuzka in her slipstream, and the pair stayed that way for the whole of the two-and-a-quarter-mile trip.
The 8-13 favourite wasn't particularly fluent at the final flight, but she responded well when Zuzka crept closer and was going away at the end as she passed the post with three and three-quarter lengths to spare.
Gordon Elliott landed a one-two in the Anglo Printers Maiden Hurdle, with Barry Geraghty driving Fisher (5-1) a length and a half ahead of Bigearsonmyright in a three-way fight that also included favourite Habesh
Adrian Maguire's top-weight Golden Kite (14-1) put up a gutsy performance to lead all the way on his seasonal bow in the O'Leary Insurances Handicap Hurdle, keeping going for Declan Queally to hold off Georgie by a length and a quarter.
Val O'Brien saddled two in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase and they had the race to themselves in the straight, with Tony Kelly driving Ballygill Gale (8-1) home in front to beat What A Island by half a length.
