NAAS specialist Opera Hat recorded her sixth course success yesterday with a gallant pillar to post victory to defy top weight in the featured Abbey Bridge Handicap Chase

Partnered by Gold Cup-winning jockey Conor O'Dwyer, the John Fowler-trained mare jumped impeccably throughtout but had to be driven out on the run-in to hold the renewed challenge of The Crazy Bishop, partnered by Paul Carberry.

Carberry incurred the wrath of the local stewards for his efforts when he was suspended for two days (April 2nd-3rd) for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.

Trainer, Dessie Hughes was delighted with the way his charge Guest Performance landed the Naas Hurdle with a flawless 13 lengths success under young Garreth Cotter.

Owned by the absent Sean Mulryan, the Be My Guest gelding will go to the Punchestown Festival, for the Murphys Irish Stout 4-y-o Hurdle according to Hughes who added: "I think he is a much better horse on good ground and the way he won here, he may well take his chance at Fairyhouse along the way.

Cossack Count, who finished in the frame on his only two outings as a juvenile, justified strong support from 7 to 2 to 5 to 2 to break his maiden tag in the Tend-R-Leen Horse Feeds Maiden after staying on well in the testing conditions under Warren O'Connor to beat market rival Symboli Kildare by a length.

"I felt it would take a really good maiden to beat him today. We will run him in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh next month and if he finished first or second in that we may go to Rome for the Italian Guineas," said winning trainer Michael Kauntze.

Ger Lyons, who has 15 two year olds in training this season, opened" his seasonal account in the Blessington EBS Maiden when Scottish Mist sprinted clear of the field at the furlong pole to score by three and a half lengths for Pat Smullen.

Afterwards Lyons said: "She did not have a very hard race at Leopardstown last Monday. She will be no superstar, but she did it nicely today."

In the concluding bumper, Willie Mullins continued his rich vein of recent successes when Palette ridden by James Nash stayed on well in the very testing conditions to beat Lord Edenbury by one and a half. The winner was given a rapturous reception in the unsaddling enclosure by the Mayden Syndicate.