Double Seven and Alan Crowe© Photo Healy Racing
< Double Seven came out on top in a dramatic finish to the Gigginstown House Midlands National Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan to land the valuable prize for the Martin Brassil yard.
Alan Crowe played his hand late on the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old, but there was some confusion as the jockeys headed up the straight as the last fence was omitted due to a low sun.< Wise Oscar swung left to avoid taking the wrong course and in the scrimmaging that followed, Double Seven (7-1) did well to stay on his feet before running on strongly to score by two and a half lengths.
Dessie Hughes landed a double completed by the long-overdue success of the talented but frustrating Stonemaster (10-11 favourite) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
Second five times over fences, the eight-year-old looked a surefire winner when nearest pursuer Eirland came down, but Davy Russell had to pull out all the stops to get him home by a nose as Im Cool Too closed fast.
Hughes's in-foal mare New River won for the first time in 17 attempts when she produced a fine front-running display of fluent jumping to take the Tom McCormack Memorial Cup Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Mark Enright got the 11-4 chance into a nice rhythm and she could be called the winner a long way out as the opposition struggled to get in a blow, before she coasted over the line 11 lengths clear.
Another to lead all the way was the Tom Foley-trained Ontheground (11-2), who ran on strongly for Roger Loughran to keep the challengers at bay in the mullingar.ie Handicap Hurdle, winning by three and a quarter lengths.
The Ladies Day At Kilbeggan Handicap Hurdle produced a thrilling finish as Dermot McLoughlin's Ocean Bright (8-1), who was left in front three out, was kept going by Conor Maxwell to hold Miss Penny Pincher by a nose, with Coosan Belle a luckless third.
