Limestone Lad's eagerly awaited debut over the larger obstacles attracted a bumper crowd to Cork yesterday and he certainly didn't disappoint when he made virtually all the running to land the Pierse Building Services Novice Chase.

Sent off at 4 to 9 to add to his 16 victories over hurdles and two bumper wins, the eight-year-old, despite fiddling the final fence, jumped well on his debut for new rider Barry Cash to account for Ceoil Agus Craic and Quintus.

Cash, who replaced the gelding's regular rider, Shane McGovern, was thrilled. "He's the best I've ever sat on and he will be even better over bigger fences."

James Bowe, who trains the prolific money-spinner under permit, echoed those sentiments: "He's very good and very clever when he wants to be. He's not 100 per cent fit yet as it's a long season ahead." On future plans, Bowe added: "If he comes out of the race well he'll run in the Kevin McManus Novice Chase at Tipperary next Saturday. He'll come on a lot from that." Limerick handler Charles Brynes nominated the Thomas Pink Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham on November 11th for Super Franky after the 7 to 2 shot recorded a bold pillar-to-post success in the featured £25,000 Pierse Group Munster National Handicap Chase.

The Pat Hughes/Philip Carberry alliance started proceedings in style when they combined to record an opening race double via Kimberley and Theseus.