Dessie Hughes enjoyed his best season, numerically, last term with 57 winners and wasted little time getting off the mark for the new season at Fairyhouse today when his Knockanarrigan survived a few heart-stopping moments to justify 2/1 favouritism in the Follow Fairyhouse On Facebook Handicap Chase.

Ridden by former Champion Conditional Jockey Mark Enright, the winner was keen and raced prominently throughout but held the lead approaching the final fence over the closing Fennis Moll

Enright secured a fine leap from Knockanarrigan at that final fence but the gelding momentarily slipped on landing on the rain softened fast surface. The slip presented Fennis Moll with her chance on the run-in but to Knockanarrigan's credit, he battled gamely for an all out short head win.

Afterwards Hughes said “ Knockanarrigan is a lovely horse and, given the way he jumps, that's his game more than hurdling. He did everything right but ran a bit free today; if he settled he'd have done it better.

“It make up for Tipperary the last day but the rain didn't help!”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson.