< Machaputo is booked for a step up in grade after helping punters get off to the best possible start at Tipperary with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Tommy Stack-trained Elusive City colt - backed from a morning price of 7-2 into 5-4 favourite - was only fourth of five on his debut at Down Royal but improved plenty from that to score by a ready four lengths from Praise Be

Stack's son and assistant, Fozzy, said: "He shows plenty of boot at home so we kept it simple with a jump and go. He'll come back here for a Listed race. He didn't handle the place (Down Royal) the first day."

Stack was forced to settle for minor honours in the following Visit Tipperary Handicap as Blue Dahlia failed to peg back front-running market leader Bank On Black

Keagan Latham was always travelling comfortably on Ger Lyons' progressive filly, who broke her duck with a cosy one and a quarter length triumph.

Shane Lyons said afterwards: "She was due that as she is consistent and honest. She is fast and that's why we came here for the fast five (furlongs).

"This filly done what you'd expect her to do there and hopefully the handicapper won't be too bad on her."< Griffin made it three from three for favourite-backers - but Johnny Murtagh had to be at his strongest to get David Wachman's charge home in the Thomastown Stables Median Auction Maiden following a real tussle from the two pole with Free Art

Heavily-punted into odds on, followers of the 1-2 chance also had to sweat on survive a stewards' inquiry before he was confirmed the short-head victor.

Murtagh doubled up when taking the 'Tipperary's Hidden Heritage' Maiden for his boss Aidan O'Brien on Big Occasion (6-4).< Humor Me Rene had stopped the rot for the bookmakers when taking the South Tipperary Maiden at 7-1, while there was a shock in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden when John Oxx's 4-6 favourite Julie's Jet could only finish third behind Kaitlins Joy (7-2).