Stoneville maintained his unbeaten record and the high regard he's held in by connections when justifying odds of 4/5 in the 2m6f novice hurdle.
The J P McManus-owned gelding, previously successful in a point-to-point at Ballingarry and over hurdles here in November, led before three out under Conor O'Dwyer to comfortably beat Prideoftheyankees by 3 1/2L.
'He's a lovely horse and we'll find a winners race for him in about six weeks time,' said trainer Eric McNamara.
He added, 'He's both mentally and physically not a horse you could send to England this year and we purposely didn't enter him. He has three mile chaser written all over him.'
O'Dwyer concurred with McNamara's high opinion of the six-year-old saying, 'He jumps well and travels nearly too well. He's a nice type of horse.'
Tumbling Dice showed great battling qualities under Barry Geraghty to outpoint Joueur D'Estruval in the featured 2m4f Kilcash Chase.
The latter looked sure to win when travelling well to strike the front entering the straight but, after landing in a heap after the last, gave the initiative back to Tom Taaffe's charge who scored by 1 1/2L.
'He jumped extremely well after blundering at Gowran and Tom will find a novice for him,' said Taaffe's wife Elaine.
Banna's benefitted from a patient ride by John Cullen in the maiden hurdle, heading the front-running Sharp Doctor at the last to beat that rival by 2L.
'I think she's nice but has been a bit unlucky, and she'll probably go handicapping now,' said trainer Mags Mullins, who reports stablestar Travino in good form.
'He needed a run at Leopardstown last Sunday and it was a good effort giving that much weight to the winner. He's got enough experience now and will run at either Cheltenham or Liverpool if the ground comes up right.'
Tom Ryan made a winning return to action when getting For A Song in front on the run-in of the opportunity handicap hurdle before holding off Lemonfield by 1/2L.
The talented claimer has been sidelined since breaking a collarbone at Thurles just before Christmas.
Ciaran Moran (19) partnered his first winner under rules when Oradit came out on top after an exciting finish to the hunters chase.
The Pat Martin-trained gelding jumped to the front two out but came under pressure after stumbling on landing at the last and just held on by a neck and shorthead from Five Seven Live and Clear The Line.
'He could go for the four miler at Cheltenham but we'll run him in another hunter chase first and then see,' said Martin.
Tiarella led two out in the mares maiden hurdle, and kept on well under pressure from Davy Russell to beat Oscar Orange by a length and a half.
Derek O'Connor was seen at his strongest when first reserve Talktothetail was driven to the front inside the final furlong of the bumper for a 2 1/2L win over Major Stampi.
Alan Magee
