Among mainly modest fare, the Wilf Dooly Chase stood out as the contest of the day at Tramore, but with Davids Lad never able to land a blow and The Premier Cat disappointing, Barrow Drive had a relatively easy task.
Tony Mullins' charge had the measure of Ground Ball when that one crashed out at the last, and the 4/5 market leader (from 5/4) came home an eleven length victor under Barry Geraghty.
Mullins said in the aftermath 'depending on the penalty for this, he'll either go for the Pierse Leopardstown Chase or alternatively the Thyestes at Gowran.'
Geraghty had earlier initiated a double, partnering Caimin's Caper for the absent Jim Dreaper to take the two mile maiden hurdle.
Dreaper's wife Patricia related 'this horse loves the soft as he just stays and stays and Barry was very positive on him'. A gamble here on the Pat Fahy-trained, Native Stag (9/4 into 11/8) came badly unstuck as he could only manage fourth.
Elsewhere Shay Barry stole the show as the local rider partnered a superb treble. Enjoying his best season to date, Barry set the ball rolling as early as the first.
Aboard Paddys Girl for Eamonn Sheehy in the novice handicap hurdle, the 4/1 shot led before three out and kept going gamely up the hill. This was the six-year-old's second start for the Kilkenny trainer.
'I have about twenty horses sick at home so it's a bonus for her to win, though I have no plans for the mare as she too could be sick in the morning,' commented Sheehy.
Win number two for Barry came on Redlyn in the beginners chase. Leading from the third, Leonard Whimore's charge made the rest, jumping well for an easy twenty length victory. Hot favourite, Boom Economy was very disappointing back in third.
The hat-trick was completed when John Codd sent out outsider, Ira Hayes to land the handicap chase. Staying on well past the bypassed penultimate obstacle, the top-weight kept on best for a seven length win.
Codd wasn't confident about the likelihood of a win beforehand and indeed admitted that he'd told anyone who'd asked not to back the gelding as he has in the main been disappointing.
A majority of the crowd were willing the Shane Broderick-trained Collectedcoppers into the winners enclosure for the two mile four maiden hurdle. Alas the 4/7 shot had to settle for second.
Winds Supreme had the odds-on chance beaten before the last, Seamus Neville's market-drifter coming home two and a half lengths in front under Keith Hadnett.
A great day for Wexford-trained horses was completed when John Berry sent out In To The Sunset to take the bumper under Alan Crowe.
In other news, an enquiry into the running and riding of Davids Lad noted the explanations of connections.
