The 11-time champion rider Derek O'Connor, this country's winning most rider between the flags, recorded his 1200th Irish points success aboard Robert Tyner's newcomer Nelly's Money in the opening division of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
A physically-imposing daughter of Beneficial, Nelly's Money made smooth progress from the rear of the field on the final circuit and she effortlessly took the measure of the useful West Vintage from two out to oblige by an easy three lengths.
"She didn't run until now as she got a bad cut as a four-year-old. But she is a big mare that would have needed time in any case and she will go to the track now," said Tyner of Nelly's Money, representing Anthony McCarthy from Riverstick.
Kieran Purcell seems to have a nice prospect on his hands in the form of the giant-sized Banner Rebel, who impressed by making a taking winning debut under Declan Queally in the Goffs UK January P2P Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Stowaway-sired Banner Rebel was always positioned close to the pace and he went for home at the second last.
It was crystal clear that Banner Rebel was soon possessing too many aces for Word Has It and he duly beat Joe Casey's charge by four lengths.
Owner/trainer Purcell was on hand to say: "He's a smashing big horse and we were nearly going to give him another month. He's still a little bit weak and he should make a lovely chaser in time."
The opening Goffs UK January P2P Sale four-year-old mares’ maiden saw newcomer Fort Worth Texas initiated the opening leg of a two-time for Colin Bowe and Barry O'Neill.
Atlantic Fairy set out with the intention of making all and she still led from Shanbally Rose and Fort Worth Texas on the run to the final fence.
The winning daughter of Gold Well touched down in front here and she bravely kept the rallying Atlantic Fairy at bay as the line approached, a neck the ultimate winning margin.
Bowe said: "She's a nice filly that's owned by Leo McArdle.”
The second division of the Goffs UK January P2P Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden, saw Bourbon Borderline atone for falling at half-way on his initial outing at Boulta two weeks earlier by providing Colin Bowe and Barry O'Neill with the concluding leg of their two-timer.
Bourbon Borderline was always positioned on the pace and he was disputing the lead when left in front three-out.
The winning son of Milan then powered clear to dispose of Oscarsman by 10 lengths in the colours of the Milestone Racing Partnership.
"He has always been a very nice horse and he will now go to some of the sales," said Bowe of Bourbon Borderline, a €57, 000 graduate of the 2017 Derby sale graduate.
The Gerry Kelleher-trained Macs Legend, a dual hunter chase scorer last season, opened his account for the campaign by easily justifying favouritism in the novice riders open for first-time partner Michael O'Sullivan.
Macs Legend, runner-up behind Cloudy Dream on his previous start at Ballindenisk, took up the running before two out en-route to defeating main market rival B L Swagger by six lengths.
"He was the form horse on his Ballindenisk run and the plan now is that he will go for the hunters chase at Thurles on January 20th," said Kelleher of Macs Legend, owned by Shane Prenderville from Macroom.
The Goffs UK January P2P Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden attracted the biggest field of the day with 15 runners facing the starter and owner/trainer Liam Casey's Victory Echo went one better than he did on his previous outing at Borris House three weeks earlier by narrowly getting the better of favourite Finisk River in a gripping finish.
Victory Echo moved closer from after the fourth last and, having gone to the front two out, he bravely kept the market-leader at bay in the closing stages with James Hannon to score by a head. "The plan was to win his maiden and he's a nice horse that's only coming to himself now," said Poulmucka-based Casey of Victory Echo, who is homebred by his sister Anne Casey.
Michael Sweeney continues to gain admirers and the 20-year-old partnered a sixth winner of the season aboard Plan At The Minute in the second division of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Niall Kelleher-trained winner, made virtually all the running and she gamely fought off Corrie Lake on the flat to score by one and a half lengths in the silks of 18-year-old Robbie Clancy from Six-Mile-Bridge.
The winning handler said: "This mare was bought at the August sales in Fairyhouse as a three-year-old and if she's not sold, she will go for a winners race."
Farran-based operator Con McSweeney struck with the six-year-old newcomer On The Sod in the East Cork Oil five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.
The son of Ask, made most of the running until overtaken by Springfield Lodge before two out.
On The Sod however responded generously to Eoin O'Brien's urgings and he surged back to the fore in the dying strides to oblige by a head in the colours of the six-member That Will Do Syndicate from the Banteer and Bweeng areas.
"We've always held him in high regard and he didn't get to run last season. He will go for a winners' race now, provided that he's not sold," said six-horse handler McSweeney of the winner.
