< Quito De La Roque made a dramatic winning return to action in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Under pressure a long way from home under Davy Russell, Colm Murphy's charge looked booked for place money at best as Sizing Europe The Nightingale and Midnight Chase who were prominent throughout, headed for home.

Sizing Europe recovered from a mistake two out to look the certain winner soon after the last but he began to tire in the rain-soaked conditions and Quito De La Roque finished with a wet sail to land the Grade 1 contest by a length and a quarter.< Kauto Stone provided Paul Nicholls with a fourth straight win in the Ladbrokes.com Chase.

After taking it up heading the to fifth fence, the 9-4 chance jumped beautifully for stand-in jockey Paul Carberry and he effortlessly went on to beat Roi Du Mee by six and a half lengths.

The Patrick Martin-trained Lucky Spring (12-1) took the Billecart-Salmon Handicap Hurdle from Montan

The latter, sent off 7-4 favourite, was given a confident ride by Russell, who still seemed to have plenty of horse under him behind the leader at the last, but Andrew Thornton and Lucky Spring were not stopping in front and ground out a three-quarter-length success.< Benny's Fagartha (5-1) fought off the persistent High Desert to win the opening Pudsey Maiden Hurdle.

Matthieu Palussiere's lightly-raced mare made all of the running and dug deep after the last flight to repel the runner-up by half a length.< Selection Box also made every post a winning one in the Tayto Group Handicap Hurdle.

Eddie O'Connell gave his mount a breather three out, when eventual runner-up Clash Rebel closed up to challenge, but Selection Box kicked on again going to the next and he had pulled a length and a half clear at the line.

The Rainbow Telecom Handicap Chase went to Leggy Lad trained by Stephen McConville.