Not for the first time, a small runner turnout for the Powers Gold Cup produced high drama at Fairyhouse last Sunday with victory going to the hugely popular Rebel Fitz.

Eventually only two of the runners completed with the favourite Ballycasey, who had done everything right from the front and was still going nicely at the time, crashing out at the second-last fence. This left Rebel Fitz in front and he duly coasted to a 15-length victory over Bright New Dawn.

It is hard to know what would have happened had Ballycasey stood up and he was still going nicely at the time, although Rebel Fitz’s jockey Barry Geraghty was confident his mount would have prevailed.

Winning trainer Michael Winters indicated that a Galway Plate bid would now be considered for his nine-year-old.

Fairyhouse was also the scene of a very notable triumph for Dungarvan-based Michael Ronayne. As an owner, Ronayne has seen his colours carried to victory on many occasions – his Moon Duster was a prolific winner for Paddy Mullins in the 1960s – but the 84-year-old registered his first racecourse success as a trainer when Moon Racer sprung a 50/1 shock in the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper.

Ronayne reported that he rides out Moon Racer every day and to produce the Saffron Walden gelding in such tremendous shape for his debut run represents a tremendous triumph on his part. In addition the promising Moon Racer was showing quite a return on the €5,000 that he cost at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland August National Sale.

To switch to the flat, Curragh trainer Paul Deegan will field a lively contender for next month’s Irish 2000 Guineas in Prince Of All, who made it two wins from as many starts this season in the Patton Stakes at Dundalk on Wednesday.

This imposing Iffraaj colt has created quite an impression on both his starts this season and he was most assured in defeating some useful rivals at Dundalk.

A classic tilt will present him with an altogether more difficult challenge but he will line with a realistic chance of giving Deegan a first classic triumph.