Leighlinbridge trainer Pat Fahy nominated Aintree next for his charge Kirmar after the six-year-old turned the Surehaul Mercedes Hurdle into a procession in the hands of Mark Madden at Clonmel yesterday.
Sent off the warm 4/7 favourite, he seized the initiative with over a circuit to race in the three mile stamina test before coming home with contemptuous ease, twenty lengths clear of Somemanforoneman.
'He couldn't have done that any better. I will be entering him for the three mile novice hurdle at Liverpool but whether I go there or not is a different story,' said Fahy, after notching up his fifth success of the current campaign.
Barry Geraghty is firmly en route to his first championship success and the Meathman brought his seasonal tally to sixty-six, eleven clear of nearest pursuer Conor O'Dwyer, when teaming up with Edward O'Grady's Cardinal Mark in the opener.
'He finished lame last day but benefited from first time blinkers today. I'll find another race for him before he hopefully goes chasing next year,' said the Ballynonty handler.
Charlie Swan, out of luck with his two-pronged assault at Chepstow on Wednesday, saddled Streamstown to scoop the Bank Of Ireland Novice Chase under a confident ride from Philip Carberry. 'I was worried about the ground (officially good-yielding) as he needs it heavy but Philip gave him a great ride,' said the former champion rider.
The three mile handicap chase produced no less than five 6 to 1 co-favourites with one of them, Fountain Page duly obliging for David Kiely and Garrett Cotter while odds-on chance Gallant Glen followed up in good style in the Hunters Chase for John and Anthony Costello.
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