CHARLIE Stout rolled back the years to land the feature at a rain sodden Bettyville, the Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase.

The oldest runner in the line-up at 12, the Shane Nolan-trained gelding was sent off a well-backed 9/2 chance, from 10s early. Always towards the head of affairs under Kieran Callaghan, he battled on determinedly in the straight to see off the effort of Darver Star by a length and a quarter.

The runner-up, who has 10 wins to his name, was carrying over two stone more than the winner and was returned the 11/4 favourite with Keith Donoghue aboard.

“I jumped out to be good and forward, he only had nine stone seven on his back, so I was adamant to make the most of that,” Callaghan said of the Barry Potts, Patrick Walsh and Michael Mulligan owned victor.

“He jumped and travelled exceptionally well. The only scare I had was the loose horse running out in front of me going by the stands. My lad went to go with him for a second but other than that it was very straightforward.”

Favourite backers again had to settle for second in the Download The Boylesports App Novice Handicap Chase, with Oscar Romero (9/1) making all in the hands of Paddy O’Hanlon.

Recording his first win over fences, the Philip Rothwell-trained son of Court Cave was strongly pressed approaching the last and while he made a slight mistake there, he battled gamely in the closing stages to hold off the challenge of Mercury Lane (11/4f) by a neck.

“Marie Bagland looks after him at home and has done a great job,” Rothwell, who was recording his ninth winner of the year, revealed.

“I think he’ll continue for the summer. It’s great to get a winner for Oliver Barden and his wife Marie. The Barden family are so supportive.”

There was further success for Court Cave, with Stolen Moment springing a 20/1 surprise in the concluding second divide of the Wexford Supporters Club Handicap Chase.

Making her debut over fences in this extended three miles and a furlong contest, the 10-year-old, who is owned by sisters Sheila and Fiona Ahern, was given a patient ride by Phillip Enright.

She blundered two out when poised to challenge, but quickly regained her composure to lead on the approach to the last, keeping on well from there to prevail by a length and a quarter.

“She is a tough little mare. She is a Court Cave and they jump fences well,” winning trainer Sean Aherne remarked.

DEMANDRIVINGDOUVAN (15/8f) ran out an impressive winner of the opening Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

On his first start since returning to the yard of Ellen Doyle, the Walk In The Park bay dominated from flag fall in the colours of Buttonwood Farms LLC.

He jumped well throughout and stretched clear from the second last, coming home 11 lengths to the good under Brian Dunleavy. While he has enjoyed plenty of success in the point-to-point sphere, it was a first track win for Dunleavy, who is from Dungourney, Co Cork.

“It was a bit up in the air whether he’d go to America, but they told us to tip away with him,” James Doyle, brother of the winning trainer stated.

“We’ll talk to Keri Brion now; she is more or less the racing manager for Rod Moorhead. Maybe he’ll go for a National at Far Hills, God only knows. We are just lucky to have him back.”

There was a much more dramatic conclusion to the first split of the Wexford Supporters Club Handicap Chase, with Aodhan May snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Ridden by Philip Byrnes for his father Charles and mother Cora, the bay victor was sent off the 3/1 favourite.

She looked held in second on the approach to the last but sprouted wings on the run-in to head the idling Fox Le Bel in the closing stages, with two lengths the margin of victory.

“Jumping the last I had a bit of ground to make up, but she put her head down and kept going,” the winning rider said. “Hopefully she can pick up another one in this grade.”

PLACED 10 times on her previous 15 starts over flights, Emily Roebling finally got her turn in the Tomcoole Farm Ltd Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

The winner of a point-to-point at Turtulla back in November of 2020, the Ger Kelleher-trained bay was sent off a 10/3 chance under JJ Slevin.

Settled behind the leaders, the nine-year-old had a good tussle with Music Of Tara (1/2 favourite) in the straight, with the market leader far from fluent two out.

Just a short-head separated the pair at the line, with the winner carrying the colours of Seamus Kennedy from Ballynonty, Killenaule.

“I thought we were beat again! She is owned by great people and it’s great to reward them for the trust they have put in me,” Kelleher reflected.

“I’d love to get a bit of blacktype with her, as her owners are breeders.”

Hardy Bloke was also returned at 10/3 (drifted from 5/2), as he made every post a winning one in the Brendan Cullimore Electrical Contractors Rated Novice Hurdle.

Owned and trained by Emmet Mullins and placed in a valuable Grade B contest at the Dublin Racing Festival, the imposing French-bred didn’t jump with fluency.

However, he still managed to stretch clear of his rivals on the run to two out, going on to register a comfortable nine-length success under Conor Clarke.

“He is a lovely big horse who has his own way of getting from A to B,” Mullins commented.

“I know it’s probably not too enticing for anyone to be going out over fences on him, but he is handicapped over them and he’ll mix it now.”