A 5lb penalty made all the difference as the Andy Oliver-trained Potomac turned the tables on regular rival Bold Thady Quill in a thrilling finish to the Kilkenny Handicap at Gowran Park.
The pair clashed in a valuable race at the Curragh on Irish Derby day and it was Ken Condon's Bold Thady Quill who came out on top on that occasion, with Potomac only fourth.
This time Potomac (13-2) hit the front in the final furlong under Chris Hayes and battled on well to get the better of a duel with the penalised Bold Thady Quill by a short head.
Aidan O'Brien sent out three of his powerful juvenile team for their debuts in the mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and the market suggested Freedom Fighter would be the best of them.
Instead King George River (5-1), a son of Danehill Dancer, travelled nicely in front under Colm O'Donoghue and though he ran green, stayed on well to account for the experienced Sugar Boy by two and a quarter lengths.
O'Donoghue was also on the mark to help Pat Shanahan double his tally as a trainer when Rominintheglomin (6-1) relished the underfoot conditions to take the Bennettsbridge Maiden.
Favourite Flying Doha hit the front in the straight, but had no more to give as O'Donoghue raced wide down the track on the eventual winner, who ran on strongly to contain Unanimous by half a length.
Jarlath Fahey's top-weight Balladiene (7-2 joint-favourite) ploughed through the mud to win at Leopardstown a fortnight ago and repeated the trick in the jogforjockeys.ie Handicap, sticking on in ultra-game fashion under Ronan Whelan to get up for a length-and-three-quarters victory.
It was a red-letter day for jockey Pat O'Donnell and trainer Pat Breen as both recorded their first victory when front-runner Apache Gold (12-1) kept going well to take the Follow Gowran Park On Facebook Apprentice Handicap by half a length.
