Bakkar, carrying the Aga Khan colours, recorded a facile victory for John Oxx and reigning champion John Murtagh when coming home well clear of the outsider, Frenchie, in the Riverstown Maiden at Dundalk yesterday afternoon. Despite running green on his debut, the son of Darshaan edged to the front at the two furlong pole before steadily drawing away from the distance to score by five and a half lengths.

Murtagh was impressed: "Not a bad horse. He ran very green and will improve from that. I know it probably wasn't a great race but he gave me a very good feel out there and could be useful."

Return Again, sixth behind Toast The Spreece in the Galway Hurdle, outclassed the opposition under Kieran Kelly in the Cooley Handicap Hurdle, coming home a distance clear of Alvine. The Dessie Hughes-trained winner, who defied top-weight, was providing her 19-year-old Co Kildare-born rider with his first winner over timber to add to his sole success on the flat, recorded last year on Angel From Heaven, trained by his former employer, Mickey Flynn.

Hughes, who went on to complete a double with Kamactay in the bumper, the sixth winning favourite to oblige, will turn her out again either at Fairyhouse on Saturday or at Galway on Tuesday next.

Ray Hogan had his claim reduced to 5lb after notching his 15th success on Jessica Harrington's Graphic Image in the Rossbracken Handicap Chase. Next year's Tramore festival had been reduced to three days in the 1998 fixture list published recently, but after last month's hugely successful meeting, it was no surprise yesterday when the Turf Club agreed to reinstate the fourth day.