Wicklow teenager Shane Jackson partnered his first winner under rules when Silver Pat initiated a double for trainer Philip Rothwell in the 3m handicap hurdle on the first evening of the three day Festival meeting.
Jackson, previously successful three times on the point-to-point circuit, drove the 5yo gelding past Claridge on the run-in to score by 1/2L.
Craig Messanger was taken to Drogheda Hospital for x-rays on a suspected fractured left leg after his mount Sangenesius was brought down when Thehonourablelady slipped up before three out.
Rothwell completed a 76/1 double when another grey Silver Adonis (12/1-10/1) swept through the field inside the final half mile in division one of the bumper for an easy six lengths verdict over Eurocomach.
Favourite backers were on the mark in the other hurdle race on the card as Classic Approach led before the last under Shay Barry to beat chief market rival Ease The Way by 3L in the 2m4f conditions race.
'He'll get further as he's won a point-to-point and will probably go next to Killarney. We'll send him over fences later in the summer,' said trainer John Queally of the evens favourite.
Just For Mary, available at 12/1 in the morning and backed down to 7/1, justified the market confidence for Navan trainer Liam McAteer and his Brazilian rider Valdi De Souza in the 2yo sprint maiden.
The Andrew Doyle owned colt led a furlong out and kept on well to beat Drummond Forces by 1L, with favourite Spirit Of Pearl (sixth) losing significant ground early as Declan McDonogh thought she'd broken down.
'I jocked Valdi off for a couple of weeks as he was riding every race like a 5f sprint but he did well today and didn't go to the front too soon,' said McAteer.
'This is a progressive colt and we may go to the Galway Festival now for a nursery,' he added.
Johnny Murtagh and Ger Lyons have enjoyed a great run in recent weeks, and the pair successfully teamed up again when Smitten Kitten made virtually all in the sprint maiden.
Murtagh, now on 45 wins for the season, needed to be alert as the 11/8 favourite veered about a bit inside the final quarter mile in beating Shinko Dancer by two and a half lengths.
'She was bought out of Brian Meehan's yard with a view to winning one race as she has a good pedigree. That was her Derby and Johnny said there could be another one in her,' said Lyons.
Murtagh is 12 ahead of Declan McDonogh who was also on the scoresheet when partnering Distant Piper to a convincing victory in the mile handicap.
Ado McGuinness' charge, recording her second win inside the past fortnight, quickened clear inside the final furlong to beat Compton Eclipse by three and a half lengths.
'She'll be in season in a few days so we'll give her a bit of a break,' said McGuinness, who also paid tribute to a fine effort by McDonogh.
Eamon Tyrrell will 'try to find a Listed race in England to get some black type' for Sweet Spot after she opened her account in the mile maiden.
Michael Hussey found a welcome gap up the far rail in the straight to beat Hucklebuck by a length, with the well-backed Tarkani (8/11) holding every chance a further four lengths back in third.
Barry Connell rode his eleventh winner when making all on Trade War in division two of the bumper.
'I have a few nice young horses this year and hopefully can get the claim down to 5lb. This lad may go for a winners race at Galway,' said Connell.
Alan Magee
