ANNA McGuinness rode her first winner when 150/1 outsider Feast stormed home to get up a nose in The Cosy Roof INH Flat Race.

The six-year-old gelding was seventh approaching the final furlong, but ran on strongly up the hill to force the photograph with Fathom Two. After he got the verdict for Richard Behan and owner/trainer James Lambe, McGuinness said: “Gees he travelled well, James gave me a lot of confidence going out and said he would run well. He was strong up the hill and I just listened to his instructions.

“I was looking over but I got up in the end and that is all that matters. It was unreal, I’d have been raging now if I had got beaten!

“I’m from Coalisland and started out with James and he has been getting me going and getting me the opportunities. I’m just delighted to finally get the winner today.

“I come from a non-racing background, no-one in my family is into horses so I just started out and I ride out for different yards up here. Of course I’m available for more rides!”

The Folkes Tiara justified 8/15 favouritism with a three-length success in The Cosy Roof (C&G) Maiden Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead.

The seven-year-old gelding took a couple of lengths out of the field after the last and was steered home by Rachael Blackmore for DWPJ Investments Ltd.

Stable representative Robbie Power said: “He has got plenty of options - that’s his first win and he has lost his maiden tag over hurdles, so he could go for a novice hurdle. There is a valuable handicap chase in Galway as well that could be an option because he was placed in Punchestown in a handicap chase at the festival and was second in Leopardstown over Christmas.”

MARK Walsh returned from an injury-enforced absence with a winner on J.P. McManus’ Foxfire Glow (11/10 favourite) in The Plus 2 Print Tony Oakes Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles five furlongs.

The five-year-old gelding set a steady pace in unison with Scorsese and had plenty in the tank when Howaya C D And E threw down her challenge before the last. Foxfire Glow went on by two and three quarter lengths from that rival.

Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “We stepped him up in trip and I’d say that was the key to him. Great for Mark - first day back after injury, so it is grand.”

Elliott doubled up when Gortmillish (9/4) took the honours for KTDA Racing in a competitive Cosy Roof Rated Novice Hurdle over the extended two miles five furlongs.

He was on and off the bridle for Jack Kennedy, but made headway to challenge 6/4 favourite Charlie Luciano at the last and came home well to better him by a length and three quarters.

Elliott said: “He gallops and he is really honest. The track was a bit tight for him, but he won well. I’m delighted with him, he’s a grand horse.”

Gavin Cromwell’s Me Wee Bonnie Lass was another horse to stay on strongly to strike in the ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The newcomer attracted plenty of support from 17/2 to 11/2 and improved to fifth at the final flight, before really finding her stride between horses to get up close home by a head for owner Mark Coleman.

Winning rider Sean Flanagan said: “I’ve sat on her a couple of times at home and she is very, very honest and genuine. Jumping was obviously key to her.

“She is still quite green there. They have gone a nice enough gallop and I was kind of happy with where I was, I wasn’t going to go wide off the bend and just hoped for a bit of luck and I got it.

“She obviously is a strong stayer and they have gone quick enough. When she met the rising ground, she was only getting into stride.”

THORNLEIGH Frank was a morning-price mover in The Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Hurdle and the support was rewarded when the 10/3 favourite delivered.

Aidan Kelly sent him after Begagh on the run-in and collared that rival in the final 150 yards to win going away by five and a half lengths from a keeping-on C’est Quelqu’un.

“We do like him, but we’ll see how far he goes. He likes that better ground and he’s not that terribly slow at home either,” trainer Mark Fahey said.

“The man that owns him (Gerry McPolin) is literally only a few miles across the way and he likes to have a runner at Downpatrick.”

Ross O’Sullivan’s Ceanndana got his turn in The North Down Marquees Handicap Hurdle for enthusiastic owners the Hows Your Father Syndicate.

The 4/1 shot travelled well for Keith Donoghue and hit the front inside the final furlong before stretching away by four and three quarter lengths.

The trainer said: “They are a great bunch of lads and, to be honest with you, they have been waiting a while. The horse is good in this grade and he has been knocking on the door, he deserved to get one.

“It was great that it happened today and Keith gave him a great ride. He handled the ground really well and wants good ground.”