Twenty years after saddling Insure to win the race, trainer Pat Hughes recorded his second win in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National when Point Barrow provided
jockey Philip Carberry with his biggest career success.
In a competitive 26 runner renewal of the race, Point Barrow raced in mid division, before steadily making progress to lead at the fourth last fence, staying on well in the straight for a length win over Oulart and Roger Loughran.
Of the rest, A New Story kept on for third, while favourite Dun Doire, bidding to land his seventh consecutive win, was never involved and finished seventh while top weight Our Ben always in rear before pulling up.
Afterwards Hughes reported 'that's my first winner for five and a half months but I did have five seconds in the last few weeks so I knew my horses were coming back to form and was hopeful of a big run.'
For Philip Carberry, the win easily eclipsed his previous big race winner, Lanturn in the 1999 Kerry National, helping to move him out of the shadows of his better known brother Paul and father Tommy, who both won the race themselves.
Elsewhere on the card, Beef Or Salmon failed to win on his return to hurdling, in the opening Racing Post In Ireland Hurdle, eventually finishing third behind Michael Cunningham's Patsy Hall.
Although not entirely fluent over some of his hurdles, Beef Or Salmon did make progress to chase the leaders at the third last, but lacked Patsy Hall's pace, eventually staying on for a never dangerous third.
Easter, despite a predictable lack of chocolate, has been good to Tony McCoy and his fine run in the saddle continued in the Joe Molloy Bookmakers Telebetting Hurdle where he partnered Publican to win for trainer Pat Fahy.
Always very highly regarded by connections, Publican tracked the leaders, before moving through to lead before the second last, staying on well for a four length success.
In contrast to McCoy's admirable will-to-win attitude, Oodachee, half an hour later, appeared to throw in the towel when refusing to put his head in front of eventual winner Justpourit, from the final flight, in the Sherry Fitzgerald Hurdle
Under a strong David Casey drive, Oodachee appeared to be travelling by far the better but pricked his ears and slowed up, leaving Justpourit to win by one length.
Tony Martin, out of luck with Dun Doire in the National, did gain compensation when Ross River landed a gamble to win the McGarrell Reilly Homes Handicap Hurdle under Davy Russell.
At Cork, Senor Benny put in a fine weight carrying performance when recording his sixth career win in the Mallow Handicap.
Despite carrying top weight, the seven year old entire made virtually all and, although joined by Belleinga inside the final furlong, responded gamely to pressure to hold the fast finishing Bricks And Porter by a head.
Without a win since gaining a Listed success at Cork in October 2004, Senor Benny's Co Galway trainer Kevin McDonagh has another blacktype race in mind the son of Benny The Dip.
He reported 'Senor Benny is a tough sort and we'll send him to Naas next weekend for a Listed race.'
Oscar India arrived late to win the Coolmore Vinnie Roe Hunters Chase for trainer Henry De Bromhead, a first win over fences for jockey Joe Burns.
