Hidden Cyclone falls at the last to leave Home Farm clear© Photo Healy Racing
< Home Farm coasted home amid dense fog in the feature John Meagher Memorial Chase on his first outing for Henry de Bromhead having been left clear by the final-fence fall of his main market rival Hidden Cyclone at Thurles.
The duo looked set to slug out a thrilling finish as they approached the last but Shark Hanlon 's nine-year-old crumpled on landing, leaving David Casey in splendid isolation on the run-in aboard the 6-4 joint-favourite.
It marked a first win since February last year for De Bromhead's charge, with the trainer nominating a pre-season breathing operation as the key reason for his return to form.
Useful hurdler Aerlite Supreme (7-4) shone through the gloom with a bold jumping display to open his account over fences in the www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase.
Michael Hourigan's seven-year-old saw off the attentions of As De Ferbet in a prolonged battle from the second-last under Barry Geraghty, the first leg of a double for the trainer and jockey.< Drumacoo (6-5f) completed the brace when running out an impressive winner of the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle.
Geraghty crept into the race, producing his mount to lead at the second-last with a slick leap, and he drew two and a half lengths clear of Couleur France on the run to the line.
The Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle saw an easy winner in the shape of Annamatopoeia (10-1), with the long odds-on shot Valyssa Monterg disappointing on her debut for Willie Mullins, trailing home in a well-beaten third.
The fixture did have a silver lining for Mullins, though, as his Bellshill (4-11f) got the verdict in a photo finish following a desperate tussle with Attribution in the Liscahill INH Flat Race.
The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle went the way of Western Promise (2-1f), while Davy Russell steered 5-1 co-favourite Deano to victory in the Templemore Handicap Hurdle.
