< Sheamus showed he could be a force to be reckoned with when he completed a hat-trick on his jumps debut in the Bobbyjo Bistro Great Food Great Deals Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The Dessie Hughes-trained gelding looked useful when taking a winners' bumper at Galway last time and he was sent off the 7-4 favourite after reports that he had been schooling well.

Mark Enright sent him into the lead in mid-race and though he was attacked from several quarters, he always pulled out a bit more and in the end he was an emphatic winner by a length and three-quarters from Couleur France

Enright doubled up when Shark Hanlon 's bottom-weight It's All An Act (7-2 favourite) found plenty when challenged to beat Bank The Bucks by two and a half lengths in the Thistle Cheltenham Hotel Handicap Hurdle.

There was a dramatic conclusion to the New Years Day Racing At Fairyhouse Book Today Maiden Hurdle when Walk To Freedom ducked out through the rail on the run-in when leading and deposited Robbie Power on the ground.

The 8-1 shot went clear between the last two flights but was being hard driven to hold the renewed challenge of Paul Carberry on the Noel Meade-trained 5-4 favourite The Herds Garden who was handed the race on a plate.

Power and trainer Jessie Harrington had better luck in the Book Your Christmas Party At Fairyhouse December 20th Mares Beginners Chase when Painted Lady (10-1) led going to five out and made the best of her way home to beat Ballychorus by nine lengths.

Pat Downey's 7-4 favourite The King Of Brega showed a willing attitude under Robbie Colgan in fighting off Formal Bid to taken the Premier Jump Racing Weekend November 29th-30th Beginners Chase by half a length after four raced to the last with a chance.

Meade's 8-13 favourite Snow Falcon had to work hard to take the bumper by three-quarters of a length on his return to action under Nina Carberry, while Mikey Fogarty drove Forjoethepainter (20-1) ahead on the run-in to take the fairyhouse.ie Book Online Handicap Hurdle.