Thekingofconnemara on his way to victory in Gowran Park© Photo Healy Racing
Popular veteran Sizing Europe lit up Gowran Park as he landed his fourth consecutive PWC Champion Chase in a thrilling finish.
Henry de Bromhead's 12-year-old had to pull out all the stops as he looked held by Galway Plate hero Road To Riches turning into the straight in the Grade Two contest, where Johnny Burke was hard at work to keep tabs on the leader.
A flying leap at the final fence gave him momentum and Sizing Europe (9-4) stuck to his task in gutsy style to grab his rival in the shadow of the post, getting the verdict by a head to the delight of his many supporters.
Paul Carberry was just beaten on the Noel Meade-trained Road To Riches, but the jockey and trainer came out on the right side of the photo in the Gowran Park Racing Club Beginners Chase with Benemeade
The six-year-old (3-1) went on six fences from home chased by De Bromhead's Clonbanan Lad and after edging clear two out he had to fight hard to hold the renewed challenge of the odds-on favourite before winning by a head.
Liz Doyle's Thekingofconnemara (9-2) landed a big pot on just his fourth start over obstacles when he took the www.gowranpark.ie Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Adrian Heskin, overcoming a clumsy jump at the last to hold Abolitionist by a length.
There was plenty of money for Christy Roche's Bay Hill (15-8) in the Golf Memberships 2015 3-Y-O Hurdle and Jody McGarvey had few worries on JP McManus's grey, who slipped into the lead between the final two flights and won by two and a quarter lengths.
The same colours were in the winner's enclosure after the Rooftop Racing Packages At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle when Eddie Harty's always prominent If Not For You (3-1) got the better of a battle of attrition to see off Moores Road by a neck under Mark Walsh.
The jockey completed a double and added a third for McManus in the MA Brennan Memorial Handicap Chase when Francis Flood's 7-4 joint-favourite Down Under held market rival Cross Appeal by a head after the pair battled it out over the last four fences.
