Briar Hill (left) jumps the last in front of Apache Jack© Photo Healy Racing
< Briar Hill took star billing at Naas but was forced to work hard to justify odds-on favouritism in the Slaney Novice Hurdle.
Last year's Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner was ridden confidently by Ruby Walsh in the Grade Two contest, but Apache Jack proved tough to pass with 7lb in his favour.
Willie Mullins' charge eventually proved too strong and pulled two and a quarter lengths clear, and although this wasn't as comfortable as odds of 1-3 might suggest, he will still be considered a live contender for championship races later in the season.
That success provided welcome tonic for favourite backers who had seen two well-supported JP McManus challengers denied at the start of the afternoon.< Moonlight Boy was fancied to make a winning hurdling bow in the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle, but he raced erratically and was eventually pulled up. The favourite's demise left Authorization (3-1) free to cruise to a facile two-and-three-quarter-length victory.< Ned Buntline came in for support in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase, but it was Mallowney who landed the spoils by two and a quarter lengths.
The 6-4 shot had chased home the highly thought of absentee Mozoltov on his last start and could not be reeled in from the front despite all Paul Carberry's urgings on the favourite.
McManus, sponsor of the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, eventually saw his famous green and gold silks carried to victory by Getoutwhenyoucan (5-2) as Ger Fox kept enough up his sleeve to see off Sir Harry Cash by four lengths.
The Carberry family had cause to celebrate with Paul getting on the scoresheet by steering Aibrean (7-4) to a three-length victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, while his sister Nina shook up Champoleon (9-4) to land the Go Racing In Kildare (Pro/Am) Flat Race by two lengths.< Luke's Benefit (100-30) continued his fine form to make it a hat-trick and two victories in the space of a week when he won the Joe Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase by one and a quarter leng
