Blue skies and brilliant horsemanship illuminated the second day of a sun-soaked Listowel Harvest Festival as racegoers went home delighted after the bookies took a pummelling.
Ruby Walsh steered the well-backed Tilabay to an immensely popular victory in the showpiece Listowel Races Supporters Club Lartigue Hurdle Handicap, giving a perfect demonstration of the waiting tactics the Irish champion jump jockey has made his trademark.
The Willie Mullins-trained Tilabay was produced from the rear with impeccable timing, looming menacingly alongside the leaders as they turned for home.
The 4-1 chance quickened easily on the run-in and held off the challenge of Siberian Tiger who blundered at the last, to stretch clear by two lengths.
A delighted Mullins said: "That was Tilabay's first run for me over hurdles, but he had schooled very well and jumped very sharp at home.
"Ruby rode a very confident race on him."< Deal Or No Deal cemented the feelgood factor half an hour later by scoring in the Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle for trainer Charles Byrnes.
Davy Russell kept the 2-1 jolly towards the rear of affairs and made effortless progress through the field before out-battling Born High to take victory by a neck.
Byrnes said: "Davy gave him a great ride in fairness. He may run here again on Thursday but is only number 16 on the ballot list to get a run."
The opening Ballygrennane 3-Y-O Hurdle was marred by early casualties as five jockeys parted company with their mounts, but Barry Geraghty's 2-1 favourite Mosstown trained by Jessica Harrington, avoided the trouble to romp home a seven-length victor.
Favourite-backers were on cloud nine by the time 11-4 favourite My Lord Oscar came home in front in the Woodford Handicap Chase.
Elsewhere, On Borrowed Wings (5-1) swooped late to nab the Bank Of Ireland Maiden Hurdle, while Denis O'Regan took care of business on Tony Martin's Another Ambition (14-1) in the John F.McGuire Beginners Chase - both much to the bookies relief.
