Hit A Bomb lost his unbeaten record as Tribal Beat sprang a bit of a surprise in the Invesco Pension Consultants Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner was making his first start since that success at Keeneland in October and looked like justifying 13-8 favouritism in the Group Three when cruising to the front entering the final furlong.
However, Aidan O'Brien's colt did not find much for pressure and could only manage third place as Jim Bolger's 9-1 chance flew home from the rear under Kevin Manning to score by a length and three-quarters from last year's winner Cougar Mountain also trained by O'Brien.
That completed a double for Bolger and Manning after Mcguigan (5-1co-fav) had earlier denied Victorious Secret by a short head to land the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap.< Holy Cat (11-4fav) made a very impressive debut when justifying market support in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Fillies Maiden.
Always going well in behind the leaders, Michael O'Callaghan's juvenile showed a sparkling turn of foot to sweep past Alphabet when Colin Keane pushed the button and went on to stretch four and three-quarter lengths clear of O'Brien's charge.
Keane completed a double in the same colours of Qatar Racing Limited when the Ger Lyons-trained Brutal (3-1) got off the mark at the fourth attempt in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. (C & G) Maiden with a two-and-a-quarter-length verdict over Diodorus < Captain Power (7-4fav) gained compensation for his recent Naas disappointment when landing the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Handicap.
Edward Lynam's charge had the race taken off him in the stewards' room at the County Kildare track but made no mistake this time, coming from last place to collar long-time leader Great Wide Open by a neck in the shadow of the post.
Joseph O'Brien got on the scoresheet when Udogo (8-1) held the late challenge of Windsor Beach by half a length in the Boomtown Rats Apprentice Handicap, while Sharliyna (10-11fav) landed the odds for Dermot Weld by thre
