The five-year-old, who won four of his five bumper starts last season, is trained by Jessica Harrington for Cathal Ryan. She reflected: "He jumps very well, although maybe he was a bit brave there at times but he'll learn. I'll look for a novice hurdle for him next and take it from there."

Dodder Walk, with Joey Elliott in the saddle, got up in the last strides of the Rathbeggan Handicap Hurdle to snatch the verdict by a head from Hollow Ranger at odds of 10-1. The Second Empire gelding is trained locally by Gavin Cromwell who said: "I'd love to get him into a race at Dundalk shortly because he won a trial race there."

Knuckahaduve reaped the reward for her consistency when taking the Cavan GAA Supporters Club Dublin Branch Mares Beginners Chase by 10 lengths in the hands of Kevin Coleman. The eight-year-old is trained in Co Cork by Marie Harding, who is a chef by profession and commented: "She deserved to win today and it was no real surprise because she wasn't a bad point-to-pointer."

The trainer, who was registering her second winner on the racecourse, is a sister of amateur rider Richard Harding who helps her out at home.

Unfortunately he will be on the sidelines for quite some time after fracturing his skull on Thursday while schooling a horse for Eugene O'Sullivan. The Noel Meade-trained Naples was sent off favourite for the Kentstown Beginners Chase but he could finish no closer than fourth behind the Cecil Ross-owned and trained Pleasereleaseme, with Barry Cash in the saddle.