In-form Luke Dempsey again proved his star quality when partnering Thunder Zone, the outsider of just three runners, in the CIT race Week Hurdle on Student Race Day in Cork yesterday.

On a day when Aintree-bound Seabass made a hugely encouraging return to action, hurdling debutant Defy Logic and Rock Critic enhanced their credentials as exciting novices with victories in Fairyhouse yesterday.

ARCTIC earned a crack at the listed Curragh Stakes when making a successful debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden over five furlongs at Bellewstown last night.

DANNY MULLINS, the rising young star of flat racing, drove the Paul Cashman-trained 20-1 shot Glitter Baby to a decisive victory in the featured Guinness Handicap at Galway last night.

Cristal Island scrambled home by a short head in the Guinness Auction Maiden.