LUCKY Pat broke his duck over fences with a fine front-running display in the Sean Hughes Memorial Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan.

The 9/1 chance was allowed an uncontested lead under Aaron Murphy and didn't come back to his rivals, despite making his first competitive appearance since the beginning of December.

Dot Love's nine-year-old kept up the gallop to see off Stonehall Jack by three and a half lengths, with Dawerann third.

Assistant trainer Ciaran Murphy, the jockey's brother, said: "We had him ready for this. That was the plan starting off here. Fair play to Aaron, he gave him a lovely ride and with the 7lb off him we were hoping he'd run a nice race.

"We've always thought plenty of him and then he had an injury. The ground was never quick enough for him in the autumn and he had two or three lovely runs. We left him off then and said we'd wait for the ground.

"There is a real good handicap in him. We have the Galway Plate and the Midlands National in our heads long term. He handles around here and won over hurdles here. We knew he'd handle the track, he's very balanced and jumps beautifully so that's a big help to him.

"He loves Galway so it would be the main plan if it worked out."

TOO STRONG

Hidden Charmer proved too strong in the Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Maiden Hurdle. Despite returning from a layoff, Pat Doyle's 10/1 chance took up the running approaching the final obstacle and stayed on resolutely to cross the line six and a half lengths in front of Great Khan.

Jockey Philip Enright said: "He travelled well. He was a bit further back than I wanted but they went quick. He jumped very well, like Pat Doyle's do. I started out with Pat Doyle and that's my first winner for him.

"It's nice to ride a winner for him as I'm good friends with Pat and all the family, Mary and all the kids, as long as I'm in racing."

Three flashed the post as one in the Loughnagore Flat Race, with Lambs Lane and Ben Brody dead-heating for first, and Peacocks Secret right behind them.

DETERMINED

Fridaynightlights backed up last weekend's Fairyhouse success with a determined triumph in the Summer Party Pack Handicap Hurdle.

It didn't look promising for the 11/8 favourite at the penultimate obstacle, with amateur rider Anthony Fox pushing him along in fourth, some way off the front-running My Betty. Gordon Elliott's charge stick to his task, though, and hit the front at the last before staying on to beat My Betty by two and a quarter lengths.

"He won well in Fairyhouse the other day but I'd say the track didn't suit him great today," said Elliott. "I had it in my head after he won that he might go to Punchestown but when I looked at the race he won't get into it so I decided to declare him here.

"He might go to Punchestown now for the opportunity hurdle. Anthony gave him a good ride. I'd say the better track will suit him better. He was a little bit on the back-foot the whole way but this place is a bit like that."

Elliott doubled up when Jack Kennedy drove Isabella Liberty home in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase. The 100/30 chance went in pursuit of At Rainbow's End approaching the final fence and caught that rival to register a three-quarter-length verdict.

"On her form last year she was entitled to win it," said Elliott. "I was a bit worried when I saw the watered ground that it might be a bit soft for her but, in fairness, she pulled it out and galloped the whole way to the line.

"It's great for the lads that own her (Twenty Syndicate). She was a cheap enough buy and they are having good fun with her. She might go for a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Punchestown. We might give her a rattle at that."

TOWNEND DOUBLE

After hitting the deck in the Fred Winter and managing only third when a warm order for a Downpatrick maiden, the Elliott-trained Icario had something to prove in the Follow Kilbeggan On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.

All appeared to be going to plan when he led after two out but Creative Talent (5/2) was hot on his heels and jumped the last better to account for the odds-on favourite by a length and a quarter.

Jockey Paul Townend followed up that victory when steering Prince Garyantle to an impressive success in the Mullingar Handicap Hurdle.

READ THE FULL KILBEGGAN REPORT IN NEXT WEEK'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD