Cork beat the elements to pass an 8am inspection but problems on the roads around the track and some concerns about the ground led to a host of non-runners at the fixture.

The feature race of the day was reduced to a three-runner affair, but Liam Burke's Kauto Relko a half-brother to the brilliant Kauto Star, was in the line-up.

However, he was beaten some way out and was going to be last of the three in the McCarthy Insurance Group Hurdle when he tipped up at the second last flight, leaving Bostons Angel and Mr Warbucks to fight out the finish.

It was the outsider of the three, Bostons Angel (4-1), who found the most though, giving Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power a nice winner.

"Bostons Angel was doing nothing the whole way around and never picked up the bit at any stage - that's just the way he is and he won't change!" said Harrington.

Brian O'Connell may have only recently joined the professional ranks but those who have seen him aboard Dunguib will not have been surprised at the coolness of the ride he gave Kilflora in the first division of McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle.

Having found little in the finish before, O'Connell was keen not to hit the front too soon on Philip Fenton's seven-year-old and delayed his challenge until after the last.

"Brian has oceans of confidence and gave Kilflora a great ride. Kilflora can be a soft horse and doesn't find a lot off the bridle & ndash; he'll go for a handicap next," said Fenton, who doubled up with Old Charm (7-1) in the McCarthy Insurance Group Flat Race.

Mouse Morris' Shane Rock (4-5 favourite) took advantage of a depleted field in the Kanturk Maiden Hurdle.

Instead of 13 runners only five went to post and Slippers Madden had little trouble guiding him home in front.

"The ground is much faster than Shane Rock would like today but he did it well enough," said Morris.

"He got a fright when he fell at Leopardstown over Christmas but I couldn't school him since due to the frosty ground & ndash; he'll make a nice staying chaser in time."