< Donnas Palm bounced back to form as he led home stablemate Aimatov in the feature event of the day at Tipperary.

The 5-4 favourite was disappointing on his final start last term but was back to his best in the Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle, prevailing by a length and three-quarters from his fellow Noel Meade inmate.

"He just hadn't been sparkling at home," said the winning handler.

"He tends to be quite lazy, but he just started to come right in the last 10 days. When he first came back in he got a stone bruise which took him a long time to get over.

"Our original plan was to run in the Cesarewitch. He has plenty of options open to him now like the Morgiana and the Hatton's Grace."

He added: "I'm delighted with Aitmatov and he'll run in those two-and-a-half-mile races at Navan."< Beau Michael (7-1) has been earning his keep over the summer with a string of consistent performances, but he stepped up to the plate in style in the O'Dwyer Steel Novice Chase.

A Grade Two winner in his pomp over hurdles, he powered home by nine lengths from Gonebeyondrecall in this Grade Three event.

"You'd have to be impressed as he had a tough race at Roscommon on Monday," said trainer Adrian McGuinness.

"Conditions were perfect for him out there, plenty of juice in the ground, and he did it well."< Oilily (5-1) foiled the brave attempt of pacesetter Ballyadam Brook in the Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.

"She got a slight fracture after her last run at Gowran and we stood her in for six weeks," said trainer Sean Byrne.

"We had hoped to get her to Listowel and I'd say she needed that. We'll probably aim her now at the mares novice race at Down Royal."

Owner Khalid Abdullah struck Arc gold with Workforce at Longchamp and the victory of Emulous (3-1) in the Group Three Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes could only have added to a memorable day.

"She is a model of consistency and I'm delighted to win a Group race with her," said trainer Dermot Weld.

"She is very effective on soft ground and I'll speak w