There may have been plenty of non-runners at Fairyhouse due to the firm ground last evening but for Curragh trainer Jeremy Harley the blisteringly fast conditions were perfect after Count On Us made a winning debut over hurdles in the Asbourne Novice Hurdle.

"I've written numerous letters to several racecourses asking them not to water the ground over the years as there are horses who prefer it and it's not fair to those horses. All the best horses around the world race on very fast ground and, after all, we do have the best grass in this country," said Harley, after his easy-to-back 6/1 chance toyed with the opposition. Despite a slow leap at the last, he still won with a bit in hand under Barry Geraghty.

"He is rated 95 on the flat and I would like to run him in a Listed race to see how he gets on but, before that, he'll probably run at Tipperary in a winners' race over hurdles. He's still a baby but I hope he's a racehorse," concluded Harley.

The Curragh trainer completed a memorable evening at the Ratoath venue when Gers Gold finished with a wet sail under Pat Cosgrave to head Euro Friendly in the dying strides of the first division of the Monard Handicap over seven furlongs, thus completing a 55/1 mixed double.

Aidan O'Brien unveiled another Royal Ascot candidate in the shape of winning newcomer Johannesburg who, despite running very green throughout, drew steadily clear from the two furlong pole to provide Mick Kinane with his 20th success of the current campaign.

On a night when the layers enjoyed the better of the exchanges, 12/1 shot Baku and Mark Flanagan carried the colours of Dunnes Stores supremo Margaret Heffernan to victory in the nine furlong Garristown Handicap.