Connections of the ill-fated Owega Star appear to have a nice replacement on their hands as Vocarium got his career off to a great start in the Attheraces.com Flat Race at Punchestown.

The son of Poet’s Voice was sent off a well-fancied 5/1 chance in this newcomers event, and was produced by Katie Walsh to lead a furlong out.

The Peter Fahey-trained gelding stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Lady Ischia by three lengths, with State Of Nirvana a further half a length adrift in third.

Fahey said, “He’s a nice horse and has done everything well at home. The last day those colours were worn was when Owega Star was killed at Listowel (in 2015 Kerry National) and we were always waiting for a nice horse for them.

“For a big horse he can go away on nice ground, and hopefully he will go on to better things.”

The battle for the amateur riders title went right down to the last race of the season, with Jamie Codd coming out on top by the narrowest of margins.

Codd landed his first title by one (41-40) over Patrick Mullins, whose mount Sparky Stowaway could only manage fourth in the final race of the season.