From left to right; Killian Forde, Golden Kite with Jody McGarvey in the saddle, Finian Maguire and Adrian Maguire© Photo Healy Racing
< Golden Kite (7-1) rolled back the years to claim Roscommon's thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase.
Now an 11-year-old, Adrian Maguire's charge last struck over fences in the 2010 Munster National, but he was a good second over timber at Cork recently and was ridden positively by Jody McGarvey here.
He took over from Salesin when that one jumped right at the third-last and although Jamsie Hall emerged from the pack as a real threat, Golden Kite called upon all his reserves of stamina to get up by a length and a quarter.< Arnaud saw off Steps To Freedom in the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Chase.
Despite claiming the scalp of Rebel Fitz at Killarney last month, Charles Byrnes' five-year-old was sent off the 9-4 second-favourite, behind classy recruit Steps To Freedom.
The market leader made his presence felt when throwing down his challenge at the final obstacle, but Davy Russell - a late switch after the withdrawal of Rathlin - had kept something up his sleeve on Arnaud, who stuck his neck out to prevail by half a length.
Dessie Hughes won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden last year with subsequent Triumph Hurdle hero Our Conor, and he followed suit when 4-1 chance Indian Icon made it second-time lucky in the hands of Fran Berry.< Flaring Forth (13-2) made a successful start to her career with Mark Fahey in the Ballaghaderreen Handicap, and her jockey Shane Foley doubled up when Durand justified 5-2 favouritism by three and a half lengths in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Always prominent, Foley sent the son of Motivator to the front a quarter of a mile from the finish and he ran right the way to the line to better his Limerick debut second, at the chief expense of Minister Of Mayhem
Saturday's Navan runner-up Saratoga Baby again had to settle for second when outbattled by To Choose (5-2) in the Budweiser Handicap.
