Common Venture foiled a quick follow up for Helensburgh when proving too strong for the recent Galway winner in the ERA Oates Auctioneers Handicap at Roscommon.
Helensburgh hit the bookmakers hard when landing a gamble at Galway last week and the layers were taking no chances with Pat Hughes' colt this time - sending him off a 1/2 shot.
The favourite hit the front early in the straight but was soon under pressure and had no answer when tackled by Common Venture at the furlong pole, going down by two lengths.
'He was crying out for this trip. We'll try and find another similar race for him,' said winning trainer Tom McCourt.
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen had a mixed evening with Jubilant Note claiming the opener but odds-on shot Striking Force getting turned over.
Jubilant Note (9/4) had proven slightly disappointing on his recent starts following a bright start to his career but fulfilled the early season promise when making all for a comfortable two-length success in the Lynam Merit Maiden.
Striking Force (8/11f) looked a good thing in the O'Gara Royal Hotel Maiden but struggled to get into contention after a tardy start and could only finish fourth.
Hasainm landed the spoils for Tom Mullins and Niall McCullagh. The filly hit the lead just inside the final furlong and stayed on well to hold the challenge of Sancia by half a length.
Declan McDonogh picked up a day's suspension for careless riding on the second.
Appraise left recent form behind when running out an easy winner of the White House Handicap. Charles O'Brien's gelding hit the lead in the straight and went right away to beat Russian Throne by five lengths.
Ger Lyons saddled the first two in the first juvenile hurdle of the season as Raintown finished well to get the better of his better fancied stablemate Packie Tam in the Railway Bar 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle.
Peruvian Athlete had to cling on grimly in the closing stages to repel a renewed effort from Runfar in the Michael Holland Tyres Handicap Chase while Short And Sweet (4/6f) made it third time lucky for odds-on shots when asserting late on to take the Ulster Bank Beginners Chase.
