James Burns saddled his first winner for nearly two years when Laurentia benefitted from a typically determined drive by Mick Kinane to take the opening Phonepak Nationwide Maiden at Roscommon yesterday evening.

The daughter of St Jovite, bought by Burns for 5,000gns at the Newmarket Sales last December, battled gamely inside the final quarter mile to overhaul Dee-One-O-One close home for a neck success. "She looks a cheap buy now, and hopefully can go on to win a handicap," said the Curragh handler. General Cloney, runner-up four times last season, gained a deserved winning bracket in the Red Mills Handicap. The Willie Mullins-trained colt led over half a mile out, and staying on gamely for Pat Smullen to beat Cottage Lord by one-and-a-half lengths. Paddy Mullins has the Galway Plate in mind for Siberian Gale who turned the Frank Hannon Memorial Chase into a procession. The uneasy 7 to 4 favourite was soon in front, and held a clear advantage to beat Frostbitten by a facile seven lengths.