Opera Hat brought her career tally to 13 wins and notched up her first success on a right-handed track when she justified slight odds-on favouritism in the Henry Ford Classika Chase at a rainsoaked Cork on Saturday. After joining front-running Stroll Home over the fourth last, Conor O'Dwyer edged the Strong Gale mare smoothly to the front before coming home with a lot in hand to score by six lengths.

"It's nice to get paid for schooling, isn't it," said winning trainer John Fowler. "It's nice to win going right-handed for once and she might go for the Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 15th. Otherwise, we will wait for a conditions chase at Naas on the 22nd of next month," he added. Eddie Ahern (19) wrapped up the Derrinstown Apprentice Series when he landed both divisions of the one-and-a-half mile handicap, compliments of Bobbella and San Sebastian, to give him his sixth success of the series.

Curragh trainer Michael Grassick, celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary with his wife, Miriam, was present to see Bobbella survive a stewards' inquiry in the first division before San Sebastian toyed with the opposition when winning very snugly in the second leg.