BENEFITING no end from his experience in the Galway Hurdle, J P McManus's Khayrawani was a convincing winner of yesterday's true run Listowel Races Supporters Club Lartigue Handicap Hurdle at Listowel yesterday.

Glancing to his left and right before making the home turn, Conor O'Dwyer eased Khayrawani to the front on facing the second last and clear to the last flipped through the obstacle before winning, eased down, by six lengths from Just Little who was later demoted to third place.

Khayrawani ran a good race to finish fourth in the Galway Hurdle, three and a half lengths adrift of Just Little who was meeting yesterday's winner 7lb worse. As he gains in experience, Khayrawani should keep improving.

Steady rain did little more than loosen the top of the surface and it won't take a lot more to ensure perfect going by this afternoon. However, as Richard Dunwoody declared after steering Corymandel to a five-length success in the Sean Graham Handicap Chase, the going was treacherous.

"I almost slipped up twice going down to the start and I was not the only one. I couldn't ride the bends and I just hope there will be sufficient rain tonight to improve the going," he explained.

The start of the race was delayed as three of the contenders had to have plate protrusions filed down. Corymandel, trained by Harry De Bromhead, made all the running to beat bottom weight Fays Folly. Incidentally De Bromhead has lost Fissure Seal to Arthur Moore.

John Oxx won yesterday's opening Vintners and Garden Tavern Maiden with the Nashwan debutante Oriane who led from inside the last furlong and won with something in hand. Michael Kinane substituted for John Murtagh who began a four-day suspension yesterday. The suspension was incurred at Longchamp a week last Sunday.

As Christy Roche could not do the weight, Robbie Burke came in for the ride on the Aidan O'Brien-trained outsider Marchaway, who made virtually all the running to win the two-mile European Union Handicap and holding by a length the challenge of Blue Bit who will turn out again for today's opener.

The Liam Browne-trained Orange Grouse improved on her promising Tralee second to win the Brandon Hotel Maiden in the hands of Stephen Craine and Sentosa Star returned to top form with a 12-length success in the T J Cross Maiden Hurdle. Sentosa Star, who was ridden by trainer Michael Hourigan's son, Michael, has now won on all three Kingdom tracks.

Dermot Weld said yesterday he has decided not to run Definite Article in Sunday's Canadian International at Woodbine, Toronto but will wait for the following Saturday's Turf Classic at Belmont Park, New York.

An invitation race, the Turf Classic is, like the Canadian International a Grade One, run over a mile and a half. When asked the reason for the change of mind Weld explained: "It looks like the ground will be soft in Canada and this would place a premium on stamina. The going at Belmont Park should be better which will suit a 10-furlong horse like Definite Article race."

After discussing the situation with the Aga Khan, John Oxx will decide today whether Timarida will be allowed take her chance in the Arc.