Kilbeggan opened its gates for the first meeting of the year last evening and once again the popular Midlands venue attracted another bumper crowd of nearly 6,500 patrons.

Jason Titley provided the large turn-out with a vintage exhibition of horsemanship when conjuring up a winning effort on the Noel Meade-trained Dawn Alert to land a grief-stricken Dawn Dairies Beginners Chase.

With the last fence omitted because Ken Whelan was receiving attention from the medical team, the run-in was extended much to the delight of the crowd, who witnessed a titantic battle, with the Clare-born rider forging his mount ahead from a gallant Beetseale (Willie Slattery) to land the spoils by three-parts of a length. Meade said afterwards: "Handicaps over long distances is what he wants."

Judge Andrew McKeever took nearly 15 minutes to decide the outcome of the Leinster Petroleum Maiden Hurdle after Lady Moskva and Brisbuck Lady flashed by the post in unison. The verdict went to the latter, a 20 to 1 chance trained by Frank Lacy and ridden by David Evans. Michael Hourigan has a very healthy strike rate at the venue, and the Patrickswell trainer opened his account for the year, courtesy of Coolree Lord who stayed on well for Garrett Cotter to touch off Boulabally and Chelsea King in the EBF Usher Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.