Paul Carberry's return to action at Naas on Saturday, following a 10-day ban incurred at the same venue last month, was a winning one, later tinged by an element of controversy.

The Meathman, who had no luck with his opening three mounts, found the winner's enclosure after the Kill Handicap Chase when teaming up successfully with Noels Dancer, who provided Michael Cunningham with a double.

Earlier, Jason Titley, who landed the Kildare Maiden Hurdle aboard Harry de Bromhead's Nosuch Thing, with 4 to 9 chance The Gatherer a disappointing third, teamed up with Cunningham's odds-on chance Manus The Man to simply toy with his four rivals in the Saggart Novice Chase to land the spoils in very cheeky fashion.

One hour later Carberry was on board warm favourite Cockney Lad, but his welcome back to the unsaddling enclosure after coming from well off the pace to finish a never nearer four-and-a-half lengths third to Native-Darrig was in complete contrast to his earlier reception.

He was jeered by a small minority of punters who had supported the 10-year-old from 11 to 10 down to 8 to 11. The stewards interviewed him after the race, and after taking into account the horse was gurgling after passing the post, although post-race normal several minutes later, they took no action.

Amateur rider Mark Loughnane (25) made all on recent Leopardstown scorer Liscahill Fort in the Kilwarden Handicap Hurdle to record his second success in the plate.

However, soon after he kept the James McLoughney-trained grey up to his task under a strong drive from the last to just hold off Roseland, he was handed a sevenday ban for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.

Jockey Dane O'Neill has been banned for five days by the Wolverhampton stewards. O'Neill riding Samwar, who finished a short head second to Krystal Max in the Lion Dance Claiming Stakes on Saturday, was deemed to have used his whip with excessive frequency and out of stride pattern.