Riverboatman steams home for Crowley in maiden hurdle
Confidently handled by Paul Carberry, the son of Lahib swept to the front over the second last, mastering the always prominent Grangehill Dancer.
Crowley has ambitious plans for her charge, clearly believing he has a real future at this game.
Revealed Crowley: "I have had the Dennys at Leopardstown at Christmas mapped out for him for a long time.
"He will improve a lot for this, is a good jumper, but was just a bit deliberate. He's in a winners' race at Listowel next week. We'll see, but it may come that bit quick."
Carberry landed a double with another confident display on the John Kiely trained Leos Shuil in the William Fry Solicitors' Novice Hurdle.
Fears regarding Amid The Chaos' ability to handle the surface manifested itself in the ring and he was a drifter out to 2-1.
He seemed to handle the ground well enough, however, but just wasn't good enough for the winner when the battle began to rage.
Amid The Chaos led going out for the final time, but was soon stalked by Leos Shuil.
The Good Thyne mare was much the stronger in the closing stages, easing away between the last two hurdles.
Said Kiely: "She likes the rain and is very genuine. I don't know where she goes next, but it won't be to Listowel."
John Oxx introduced a very nice newcomer in the Barathea filly, Allexina, to take the Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Maiden.
She was always near the front, getting the better of promising newcomer, Ethon, inside the furlong pole and then holding the late rush of Full Victory by the minimum margin.
Oxx was represented by assistant, Jimmy O'Neill, who said: "She was green and we didn't really expect her to win. There are no plans, but she will run somewhere towards the back-end."
Michael Kinane partnered Allexina and he and Oxx completed a double with a daughter of Halling, Waldblume, in the other juvenile maiden sponsored by Irish Stallion Farms.
Set In Motion, runner-up behind Scandinavia at Galway, made a brave attempt from the front but the winner was always getting the best of the battle through the last furlong.
There was some close riding between the principals, but the placings were never going to be altered, following an inquiry.
"We were in the same boat with this one as our first winner, we thought she'd need the run", reported O'Neill. "She's a real three-year-old in the making and should stay a mile and a half."
Alota Baby, with a theoretical 8lbs in hand according to the handicapper, was easy to back in the Super Sunday at Tipperary Handicap Hurdle.
The market got it right. She led four out, but was struggling approaching the home turn and was soon back-pedalling.
Victory went to Teknash, for the Madden combination, Niall senior and junior. Teknash edged ahead before the last to score with plenty in hand.
Deerpark ran fast from the start in the five furlongs Davin Arms Racing Club Nursery, but was cut down in the closing stages, as Colm O'Donoghue brought Dancing Duchess with a smooth challenge to score cosily.
The other sprint on the programme was a real commentator's nightmare, with 18 runners spread right across the track.
Victory went to Mr Flatley, powered ahead by Jamie Spencer over a furlong down to beat La Motta, both horses coming up the stands side.
