It boiled down to a match between the big two in the betting in the opening www.galwayraces.com Mares Maiden Hurdle. Kalopsia at odds of 6/4 gained the day by half a length from Lettre De Cachet (11/8 favourite).

The story of this two miler is easily told. Lettre De Cachet travelled better than Kalopsia to take over at the last but a mistake here proved disastrous.

In the J P McManus silks Barry Geraghty wasn't long about seizing the opportunity to take command again, and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Kalopsia kept on gamely to defeat the unlucky Lettre De Cachet.

"She had a few niggly problems and it's great to get a winning bracket with her. We won't be getting too ambitious with her yet," said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.

D.E. Splaine, rider of Howaya Hurricane trained by Gerard Keane, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was held up to get the trip and stayed on past beaten horses.

(TW & EM)