There was a bitter-sweet success for Gigginstown House Stud in the opening three-runner Brian Cody & Aidan O'Brien Novice Hurdle at Gowran as Midnight Oil won for the County Westmeath outfit but they also lost their other runner, Umpact in the two miler.

Davy Russell 's mount, the 4/7 shot Midnight Oil, comfortably got the better of the front-running Sizing Jo'burg up the straight to triumph by seven and a half lengths. Willie Mullins trains the former Luca Cumani flat-racer.

Meanwhile 7Ib claimer Shane Shortall was on the Tony Martin-handled, Gigginstown contender, Umpact, a previous impressive course victor. He unfortunately suffered a fatal injury before the third last flight and was quickly pulled up.

Russell said of Midnight Oil: "He handled the ground and it was straight-forward for him." (TW & EM)