Shane Kelly (19) gave the riding performance of the day, and in the process joined John Murtagh at the head of the championship table on the four-winner mark, when steering Helorhiwater to victory in the Rathcarren Handicap at Ballinrobe yesterday, where punters had to brave wintry showers without the protection of a stand which is currently being rebuilt.

The saddle slipped on the seven-year-old before halfway in the two-mile event, and Kelly was balanced on her neck inside the final furlong when beating Wally Wallensky and Clashbeg, who dead-heated for the runner-up spot, by three-quarters of a length.

Steven Curtis (15) partnered his second winner when Back To Bavaria swooped late to take the Inishmaine Handicap. The Navanborn pilot, a recruit from the pony racing circuit, put up 6lb overweight on the John Bowles-trained mare, and she came from a seemingly impossible position two furlongs out to beat The Director by three quarters of a length.

This was Bowles first winner since taking out a licence earlier this year and, coincidentally, Curtis gained his first win at this venue last September aboard Soviet Dreamer, trained by Bowles's son, Lee. The stewards refused a request from Bowles to substitute Curtis with Shane Kelly after the former informed him of his weight. Curtis was severely cautioned by the stewards to be more careful in future when accepting rides with regard to his weight.

Jim Gorman has made a bright start to the new flat campaign, and the Curragh handler added to his tally with Lisdoonan Tessa in the Mayo Novice Handicap Hurdle. Fran Berry, partnering his 13th winner over jumps, gave a polished display on the five-year-old, who could revert to the flat for a two-mile handicap at Clonmel next week.