< Gold Bullet beat more seasoned chasers to claim top honours in the Suir Valley Chase at Clonmel.

Tom Taaffe's grey was pitched into the Kim Muir at Cheltenham with just three starts over fences under his belt but it all proved too much for him, and he was sent off at 9-2 in this less competitive event.

The race changed complexion two out when long-time leader Baily Green dragged his hind legs through it and You Must Know Me hit the deck, but Gold Bullet still had work to do and showed good resolution to score by two and a half lengths.< Nickname Exit had to work harder than expected to land the odds in the Goatenbridge Maiden Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh had to get down to business some way out on the 8-11 favourite but, to his credit, he responded manfully on his jumping debut and kept going to beat Master Appeal by three and three-quarter lengths.

With Mikey Fogarty taking a fall earlier on the card, Johnny Burke came in for the successful spare ride on Deano in the Slievenamon Beginners Chase.

The 3-1 shot appeared to have the measure of The Conker Club when that one crashed out at the final fence, enabling Deano to coast home 13 lengths clear of The Herds Garden < Jo Go left all previous efforts behind in the Holy Thursday Handicap Hurdle.

Stepping out of maiden company for the first time under Rules with little form to recommend her, the 20-1 chance cruised into contention on the long run to the final obstacle but had to pull out more than initially looked likely to fend off Binowagh Bay by two lengths,

An admittedly unsuccessfully stint between the flags has apparently revitalised Knockrea (9-2) because he stuck his neck out admirably to claim the Ardfinnan Maiden Hurdle, while Paul Carberry got on the scoresheet when driving Mallards In Flight (11-2) out to victory in the Happy Easter To All Our Patrons Handicap Chase.