Don Cossack and Bryan Cooper© Photo Healy Racing
< Don Cossack was workmanlike in retaining his Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase crown at Thurles.
Just 19 days on from his King George fall, the 1-8 favourite didn't appear totally enthusiastic early on and Bryan Cooper moved him alongside the front-running Rubi Light heading out on to the final circuit.
Two out, he touched down in a share of the lead with Mount Colah and Rubi Light, who both made mistakes, and he was clear by the final fence, which he jumped efficiently en route to a nine-and-a-half-length defeat of Wounded Warrior
His stablemate Westend Star stayed on best of all to justify 4-5 favouritism in the W.T. O'Grady Memorial EBF Novice Hurdle.
The seven-year-old tracked Willie Mullins pair Monbeg Rose and Arkwrisht until moving alongside the latter approaching the final obstacle, and he responded well to Barry Geraghty's questions to triumph by seven and a half lengths.< Aunt Nora sprung a 33-1 shock in the Grade Two Ocovango Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Odds-on favourite Bitofapuzzle was bowling along at the head of affairs when parting company with Noel Fehily three out, leaving Queens Wild clear, but Aunt Nora went in pursuit and got on top in the dying strides.
Fehily gained some compensation for Bitofapuzzle's mishap when steering Coolnagorna Giggs (5-1) home in the Thurles Handicap Chase, while the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase went the way of 4-6 favourite Two Rockers < Rooster Byron made a successful jumping debut in the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Paul Nolan's 33-1 chance was down the field in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper on his only previous taste of competitive action, but showed a good attitude to fight off Never Again and prevail by three-quarters of a length.
The ex-French Diamond Cauchois proved ahead of his initial Irish mark in the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, quickening six and a half lengths clear of Followmeuptocarlow at odds of 16-1.
