Davy Russell started the 2012 Killarney Festival in the best possible manner by winning his two rides on the opening night.

The champion jumps jockey had to be at his strongest to land the Aer Lingus Handicap Chase on the Gigginstown House Stud-owned His Excellency (3-1 favourite), who was enhancing his unbeaten record at the County Kerry circuit.

Gordon Elliott's gelding has been called a few names in the past due to his tendency to swish the tail under pressure, but he dug deep when it mattered most to beat Banna Man by a neck after making his challenge two out.

Russell had earlier struck on Charles Byrnes' Beabus Jack in the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park/Killarney Racegoers Club Maiden Hurdle.

Given a month off since running out at Clonmel, the 5-1 chance took it up between the final two flights and went on to beat Plato by five lengths.

Joseph O'Brien notched a brace at Dundalk in the afternoon and made the evening trip worthwhile by doubling his tally for the day.

He helped Dick Donohoe's in-form mare Happy Anniversary (5-4 favourite) complete a quickfire hat-trick in the O'Keeffe's Marquee Hire Rathmore Handicap, before giving the Aidan O'Brien-trained Beach Of Falesa (5-4 favourite) the coolest of rides in the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap.

The Dylan Thomas filly travelled powerfully throughout and readily beat Equity Swap after hitting the front inside the final furlong.< Pussycat Lips (6-4 favourite) built on her promising Naas debut run when stepped up to a mile in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Billy Lee had Tommy Stack's Holy Roman Emperor filly in a prominent position from the outset, and she kept responding to draw three and a quarter lengths clear of Cool Metallic

The Michael Kenny Memorial Apprentice Handicap went to Inis Meain for Denis Hogan and Ronan Whelan.