Michael O'Sullivan initiated the opening leg of a two-timer by making his initial mount for the absent Colin Bowe a winning one aboard newcomer It Sure Is in the Goffs UK, Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden.

The Shirocco-sired gelding made virtually all the running and he drew clear with the challenging Bloodstone from after the third last.

There was then very little to separate the pair until the triumphant bay asserted on the flat to account for Knockanard runner-up Bloodstone by a half-length.

The winner was acquired for €48,000 at last year's Derby sale by Rob James, who missed Sunday's action on account of his Cheltenham festival suspension. "Michael is a real good young chap that's flying at the minute. We really think a lot of this lad and he will now go to the sales," said James.

The Gerry Kelleher-trained Macs Legend brought up the concluding leg of rider Michael O'Sullivan's two-timer by coming from an unlikely position to beat All Hell Let Loose in the Big Tree Bar and Dermot OLeary Agri open.

The dual hunter chase scorer was posting a fourth points success, seemed beaten in fifth spot from four-out.

However, the odds-on shot made his way into contention before two-out and he mastered All Hell Let Loose in the closing stages to oblige by a head in what was the closest finish of the afternoon. "He has been a great servant for us and Michael [O'Sullivan] thought that the ground was a bit too good for him today.

He will hopefully now run in either the Jack Tyner Memorial Hunters Chase at Cork on Easter Monday or else the Joseph O'Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting,” said handler Kelleher of the Shane Prenderville-owned Macs Legend."

Shark Hanlon and 23-year-old rider Tom Hamilton both sampled 'Gain' success for the very first time by combining to win this year's Gain Mares Final that came complete with a generous €3,000 bonus to the winner, courtesy of Dime A Dozen.

The mid-January Tinahely maiden winner made all the running and it was clear that the victorious mare had her seven rivals in trouble on the run to the second-last.

The daughter of Jeremy bravely maintained the tempo to account for fellow five-year-old Fort Worth Texas by three lengths. 

Hamilton, who works with Joseph O'Brien, then travelled to Limerick where he won the bumper aboard the John Halley-trained Blackhillsofdakota. Hanlon, who recently sold Dime A Dozen to a six-strong syndicate headed by Sean O'Hehir, said: "Full marks to Tom [Hamilton] as he was very good on her.

This was Tom's first time riding Dime A Dozen, but he went through all of her races last night when he was coming back in the lorry from the Portrush point-to-point with my partner Rachel and I.

Our mares’ form was very good coming here and she will now go for the mares' point-to-point bumper at Cork over Easter next.”

The Winners Enclosure and Anthony & Associate Agri-Consultants five-year-old geldings’ maiden saw the Roger McGrath-trained Ask A Honey Bee vindicate the promise he displayed by finishing third on his initial two starts this season at Dungarvan and Knockanard by landing this 13-runner contest in the hands of first-time partner Declan Queally.

The winner moved through to dispute from half-way and he was in pursuit of newcomer Ask D'Man from before the second-last.

Ask A Honey Bee mastered the promising Ask D'Man, both being sons of Ask, inside the final 50 yards to score by one and a half lengths.

"The bit of better ground helped and he really enjoyed the galloping track," reported McGrath of the winner who owned by retired Dungarvan dairy-farmer John P Kiely.

Coolmore, Liam Geary Garage, and Mr.Softee five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

This race, which featured a €1,000 bonus to the winner sponsored by the O'Keeffe family from Ballynoe, attracted some 15 starters and the Bob Murphy-owned/trained and bred Darrens Hope vindicated the promise of her fourth-placed return effort at Dungarvan in January by triumphing under Darragh Allen.

The Oscar-sired mare was always well positioned and she went for her race from three-out.

She was clearly in command coming to the final fence and ultimately accounted for the previous Sunday's Liscarroll fourth Somethinboutangela by three lengths.

"She's a lovely big mare that I originally sold to John Leahy from Killeagh only to later buy her back from him. She will go for a mares’ point-to-point bumper now," said Affane-based Murphy.

Witness Protection atoned for pulling up before the last with a broken reins when holding every chance at Liscarroll the previous Sunday by justifying favouritism in this closing Rathbarry Stud and Lagan Concrete older geldings’ maiden contest under Derek O'Connor.

Although erring at the third-last, the patiently-ridden Witness Protection eased through to pick up the running on the approach to the two-out and the market leader was never really troubled thereafter to account for long-time leader Rwegoinhigh by one and a half lengths.

Owner/trainer Martin Cullinane wasn't present, but the indications are that the gelding may now be aimed at a bumper.