Pre-race it was all about strongly-backed 6/4 favourite Oscar Knight for in-form Barry Geraghty and J P McManus. By the end of the three mile one furlong BoyleSports Handicap Chase though, it was Cara's Oscar (8/1) that had emerged to steal the show at Fairyhouse.

Colm Murphy produced the ten-year-old, under the steadier of top-weight here, fit and well on his first outing since last June.

Robbie Power was aboard the unbeaten at the track (three from three) son of Oscar, and he eventually got the better of Coolnagorna Giggs by five and a half lengths.

Oscar Knight meanwhile, was let down by his jumping, a bad mistake at the third last ending his hopes. He crossed the line in fifth place.

"That's five years in a row now that he's won first time out, and we have always struggled to get a second run into him. He's got a lot of issues but the ground doesn't seem to make that much difference to him, or the trip," remarked Murphy.

"He won over two miles and five furlongs here last year, and we just thought the longer trip today would give him a chance to get into it. Maybe we should put him away now for the Irish National next year!

"Empire Of Dirt is in good form after Cheltenham. He'll have a few entries but he could go for the Topham at Aintree."

(AM & EM)