A crowd of 14,500 turned out at the new Limerick racecourse, and they were treated to a real spectacle in the featured AIB Greenmount Park Novice Chase where Ellenjay scored in the hands of Barry Cash.
The Arthur Moore-trained gelding was always travelling well under Cash, leading two out to beat Copernicus by six lengths. Risk Accessor, the 4/5 favourite, held every chance in the straight a further nine lengths adrift in third.
Tom Treacy, who has suffered his fair share of injuries this year, partnered his first win since returning recently from a broken ankle when the former Ian Balding-trained Risky Reef got his jumping career off to a winning start in the four-year-old hurdle. Andrew Lee's charge held the renewed effort of the front-running Pittsburgh Phil by two and a half lengths.
Native Scout easily justified prohibitive odds in the three-runner PriceWaterhouseCoopers Hurdle, despite a couple of hesitant jumps in the straight. 'He may run here again on Friday, and the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown next month is the main aim,' said trainer Donie Hassett.
Hassett later completed a double when Roscam made all to take the bumper in the hands of trainer's son Brian.
Beef Or Salmon let odds-on supporters down in the maiden hurdle, slipping on landing after two out when travelling well in front. This left Garden Town to score by four lengths in the hands of John O'Meara.
The second last flight also played a crucial part in deciding the outcome of the handicap hurdle. The Donie Hassett-trained That's The Story held a clear advantage when falling at this point, leaving Rudi's Pleasure to justify favouritism.
Alan Magee
