Donaghmore Lady, who had last week's Cheltenham National Hunt Chase hero, Deejaydee, back in third when winning a bumper at race last season, opened her account over timber in the mare's novice hurdle at Downpatrick yesterday.

The winner upset the well supported Ash Baloo and Charlie Swan in the process before surviving a stewards' inquiry into possible interference on the final bend. However, winning rider Garrett Cotter incurred the wrath of the stewards and was handed a four-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency.

The suspension means that Cotter will miss the opening two days of the Fairyhouse Grand National meeting. Ruby Walsh extended his lead at the head of the jockeys' table when notching up his 78th success aboard Scoss in the beginners' chase. Conor O'Dwyer was a relieved man after holding on by a rapidly diminishing short head aboard Windover in the three-mile handicap chase after he had eased the Bunny Cox-trained gelding in the closing stages.