Roman Gold (right) leads Just Cause over the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
< Sir Des Champs returned from nearly two years off the track with a victory in the Boomerang Animal Bedding And Boomerang Horse & Country Store Chase at Thurles.
The 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up had been sidelined by injury since finishing fourth in the Lexus Chase that same year and was sent off 11-10 favourite for his reappearance in the Listed contest.
It was the trailblazing Rubi Light that looked the more likely winner for most of the race and held a big lead turning for home, but Willie Mullins' representative quickly began to eat up the ground under Bryan Cooper and reeled the leader in to score by score by two and three-quarter lengths.
Cooper went for a double 30 minutes later on Just Cause in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners E.B.F. Rated Novice Hurdle, but had to play second fiddle to fellow Gigginstown House Stud-owner runner Roman Gold (7-2).
The Mouse Morris-trained 2-1 favourite got first run when moving into the lead early in the home straight but had no answers when challenged at the last by Gordon Elliott's charge, who stretched six lengths clear for Jack Kennedy.
Mullins got his double when Myska (4-7fav) made a successful debut over timber in the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The Presenting mare landed a Clonmel bumper with ease in April and did the job in similar fashion here, as she cruised up to Princess Lir and pulled a length and three-quarters clear under a motionless Ruby Walsh.
Mullins had no luck in the opening www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase as odds-on favourite Moyle Park pulled up after jumping the first.
It was Ttebbob (3-1) who took advantage with a dominant front-running display as Robbie Power's mount recorded a comfortable six-length verdict over All Hell Let Loose
Walsh brought up his two-timer when partnering Micras (6-1) to a half-length success from Lake Field in a thrilling finish to the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle< Long House Island justified 2-1 favouritism for trainer/rider Denis Hogan when touching off Repeater by a head in the Liscahill Novice Handicap
