Emmpat, provided Charlie Swan and David Casey, who already have such a good record in the contest, with another victory in the Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle.
Backed from at least 12/1 this morning into a returned 7/1, the prolific winner gained the big success that always looked on the cards for him following placings in the Galway and Swinton Hurdles.
Going well throughout, Emmpat led before the last and ran on well for a comfortable 3L win over New Field. Both the second and third, Monoceros were well-punted each-way.
Swan said afterwards, 'he was a bit unlucky in the Galway Hurdle but he is a classy horse and this was always the plan after and we were just praying for good ground.
'He will probably go back for the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock now.' The Bigstone gelding was a 46,000 guineas purchase out of the Tony Mullins yard at the 2005 Doncaster November Sales.
A 71/1 double for David Casey was completed in the following h'cap chase. Aboard Kranji here for Arthur Moore, the duo put up a bold performance, mainly from the front.
Headed briefly after the last, the 8/1 shot rallied well to prevail over the strongly-supported market leader, Reisk Superman (9/2 in the morning into 5/2) by a neck.
On an afternoon that the race commemorating his father Dan was run, Moore commented of the former Philip Dempsey-trained point-to-pointer, 'that is the first time he got the good ground he needs.'
For followers of the Dereens, Naas yard it was a very rewarding couple of hours as Swings N Strings did the business at Chepstow under Noel Fehily at odds of 6/1.
Gemini Lucy's great-grand dam, Masterstown Lucy, produced Jodami, and that breeding certainly shone through when Jessica Harrington's mare put up a sparkling display in the Dan Moore Chase.
Her Arkle Chase effort (tenth there), described by her trainer as 'a bit of a disaster as she came in season,' was put firmly in the past as Andrew Leigh's mount galloped her rivals into the ground.
Backed from 7/2 in the morning into 5/2 favouritism, Gemini Lucy was clear after four out, staying on well for an easy seventeen length rout of Old Flame and company.
The Swordlestown Cup at Punchestown is next on the agenda for this exciting first season chaser. Meanwhile Leigh is the leading conditional rider, 'by 3 or 4' from Andrew Lynch at the moment.
Similar to that story, the well-bred De Valira (below expectations at Cheltenham when 10th also) showed his true worth in the Grade 2 Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Novice Hurdle.
A half-brother to Valiramix and a grandson of Condessa, a Yorkshire Oaks heroine of yesteryear, De Valira was fifth and weakening when stumbling at the last in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Here with Andrew Lynch back aboard, Michael O'Brien's chestnut got to the front after two out but he was all out close home to hold-off the renewed run of the pace-setting Cuan Na Grai.
The neck victor then survived a Steward's enquiry. Gamble of this event, Glencove Marina (4s this morning into 9/4 favourite) was a touch careful with his hurdling but he came home very well to be third.
Bahrain Storm (at least 7s in the morning), returned 9/2 joint favourite, showed his versatility in terms of ground when quickening well to catch Financial Reward close home in the opener.
Davy Russell was aboard the blinkered son of Bahhare for Pat Flynn. The Waterford handler's string are obviously on good terms with themselves as his Pacolet scored at Cork on Sunday.
Robin Du Bois, a narrow leader travelling well when falling two out, caused his rider Paul Carberry (bang on the head) to be stood down for the rest of the day. Crookhaven, a faller four out, was a fatality.
Niall Slippers' Madden deputised for Carberry on Carndale, 1L winner for Noel Meade of the 3m 1f h'cap chase. Only twelve of the twenty two that set out here completed.
It was probably a pointer in itself that Ted Walsh would pitch the 5yo Beautiful Sound in against some of the better hunter chasers in the penultimate contest and so it proved.
Ross O'Sullivan's mount, who got off the mark at The Pigeons 37 days ago, challenged after the last here, getting the better of Agus A Vic by one and a quarter lengths.
She may have found herself on the turf more times than she would like over the last couple of days but it is hard to keep a good woman down as Nina Carberry showed on Jered in the bumper.
Bringing up a double for Noel Meade, this newcomer prevailed over two others that were prominent in the betting, namely Cuchulains Son and Cloone Rocket.
Eamonn Murphy
