< Letherbelucky got back into the winning groove with a commanding victory in a hot contest for the Oran Novice Hurdle at Roscommon.

Willie Mullins' mare won a bumper and a hurdles event before coming unstuck when second on rain-softened ground at Down Royal, but she put in a thoroughly professional performance to see off a host of previous winners this time.

Paul Townend took the 2-1 favourite up to the leaders at the third-last and she dismissed first Reafadda and then Audrelles Lad before asserting on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths.< Medicinal Compound who joined Eric McNamara after being bought out of the Kevin Ryan yard, made his second appearance over jumps a winning one when he took the Athleague Maiden Hurdle.

Emmet McNamara took the lead on the 16-1 chance on the run to the last and was never really threatened as evens favourite Tepalo got going all too late and came up two lengths short.

The most valuable race of the day was for the Leo Dolan Memorial Handicap Hurdle and the prize went to the Cecil Ross-trained veteran Our Eric (12-1).

Robbie Colgan rode a patient race on the 11-year-old, picking his way through the field late on to challenge long-time leader Boland's Corner going to the final flight and forging clear on the run-in to win by three lengths.

Ross came desperately close to a double in the Pyramid Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle, but Queen Of Hardship could not quite claw back Andalucia Lady (5-1) at the finish and Peter Fahey's mare held on by a head under Shane Butler.

James Nash's Moscow Storm (6-1) returned from a year-long lay-off to win the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Ben Dalton, taking charge on the run to the second-last flight and staying on strongly to account for The Bishop's Day by five and a half lengths.