< Monksland put in a thoroughly satisfatory display on his seasonal bow as he landed the Grade Two WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.

Winner of a Grade Two event at Naas last season before finishing third to Simonsig in the Neptune Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Noel Meade's five-year-old was sent off the 4-5 favourite.

He was going best when Paul Carberry sent him into the lead two out and though an untidy jump at the last gave Joxer a chance, Monksland picked up nicely to dismiss his opponent by two lengths.< Top Madam (10-1) was back in action after winning at Wexford last Saturday and Donal Coffey's mare ran out a game winner under top weight in the EBF Lough Construction Ltd Mares Novice Hurdle.

She looked to have odds-on favourite Missunited to beat turning for home, but that one made a mess of the last two flights and it was Thynetocatcher who got closest to Davy Condon's mount, going down by a length.

Charles O'Brien's 5-4 favourite Stocktons Wing stepped up on his promising Listowel jumps debut third to take the Eventsec 3-Y-O Hurdle with the minimum of fuss.

Mark Walsh took the second-last in third place but going best and the JP McManus-owned gelding quickly picked up the leaders and led at the final flight before easing two and a quarter lengths clear.

Gordon Elliott's Bonisland (13-8) added to his victories in a point-to-point and a bumper with an eyecatching show on his jumps bow in the Allianz Maiden Hurdle, helped by Davy Russell's enterprise in slipping through on the inner on the home bend before powering four and a half lengths clear.

Paul Townend landed a double for Tony Martin, Benefficient (13-8 favourite) leading all the way to win the Porter & Co Beginners Chase and Pires (3-1 favourite) putting in a late run to claw back Monastrell for a thrilling victory in the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.