Northern trainers dominated the finish of the Toals Bookmakers Ulster Grand National EBF Handicap Chase at Downpatrick, with standing dish Chief Oscar running out a game winner, but the race was tinged with sadness.
Brian Hamilton's 16-1 chance's two previous successes came at this circuit and he was always prominent under Andrew Lynch, before going clear of his rivals at the last.
Ian Ferguson's Bally Wall produced a late rally to chase home the winner but was a neck down at the line, while Colin McBratney's Selection Box came from out of the clouds to finish third.
Disaster struck, however, as Chief Oscar collapsed and died after the race.
McBratney gained some compensation when Mighty Massini kept on grimly to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
The 11-10 favourite took over when Oh So Humbel fell four out and though Johnny Killawee challenged late on, Paddy Flood drove Mighty Massini home to score by three-quarters of a length.
Barry Geraghty produced a fine front-running ride on Rossdara as she landed the Downpatrick EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
Tom Cooper's charge led for much of the race, but Spare Shilling got on terms before the second last and they jumped the last two flights in unison.
Geraghty had kept a little up his sleeve, however, and the 9-10 winner shot clear after the last before fending off the late challenge of Maryiver by three-quarters of a length.
The Noel Meade-trained Gloonan Hill (8-1) got proceedings under way with an all-the-way success in the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle under Tim Carroll.
Luke McNiff drove his brother Mark's Ilikeyou (10-1) to a four-length victory over Macra Na Feirme in the Peter Meegan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, while Simon McGonagle kept his cool in an incident-packed Morning Star Belfast Hunters Chase to take the race with 11-8 favourite Nedzer's Return
