Beef Or Salmon continued his love affair with Leopardstown by recording a fifth Grade 1 win over the course and distance in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Paul Carberry had his only anxious moment when the 2/5 favourite took off too early at the fifth last but survived that scare and eased past the front-running Hedgehunter before the last to win by a cosy 12L.
Michael Hourigan's charge remains generally a 5/1 jt fav with Monkerhostin for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, although Cashmans and Paddy Power both cut him to 4/1.
'Paul said he was jumping nearly too good today and just took a chance at that fence. He felt he was a better horse today than here in the Lexus at Christmas,' said Hourigan.
He added, 'He's never been as healthy and well in himself since we took him to Cheltenham the first time and he had that bad fall.'
Carberry was completing a Grade 1 double on the day as Mr Nosie earlier maintained his unbeaten record with a workmanlike 3L victory over Royaldou in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle.
Glenfinn Captain unseated Tony McCoy when blundering at the fourth, and the Tom Taaffe-trained gelding later hampered Mossbank, and to a lesser extent the winner, when falling while running loose four out.
'He worked well during the week which is not like him as he's normally lazy. He idled after getting to the front and will go for the 'SunAlliance'', said Noel Meade, who also has Nicanor for that event.
The Railway Man (16/1) was one of the few to cheer bookmakers when coming off a strong pace in the hands of Davy Russell to take the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase.
Father Matt and Southern Vic had the field well stretched down the back straight but the writing was on the wall as The Railway Man loomed up at the second last.
Russell waited until after the last before asking for an effort, and Arthur Moore's charge found enough to hold on by 1 1/2L from Father Matt with Our Ben staying on best of all just a neck away in third.
'I was hoping for a place and winning is a real bonus. Davy gave him as good a ride as any horse he's ridden,' said a delighted Moore afterwards.
He added, 'I would not rule out the Arkle but think it could be a bit sharp and the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse is an obvious race for him.'
Our Ben was the main ante-post mover being cut to as low as 5/1 (from 8's) with Paddy Power for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
Mister Hight is generally unchanged at 5/1 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after justifying odds of 4/9 under David Casey in the Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was soon in front after a slight mistake at the last, and drew clear to beat Breathing Fire by four and a half lengths.
'I was quite pleased with the way he did everything and I think he will have learned a fair bit today. He likes it softer and with all the dry weather in England it's going to be a worry but he'll run,' said Mullins.
Studmaster followed up his Pierse Hurdle win here last month with an impressive success in the T C Matthews Carpets Handicap Hurdle to complete a double for trainer Jessica Harrington.
Tommy Treacy sent him to the front before two out and stretched clear in the straight before being eased down to beat Freddie Foster by five lengths.
Mrs Harrington is now considering a tilt at the Imperial Cup in Sandown, while she will look for some 'black type' with Gazza's Girl after she put up a tough performance to land the mares handicap hurdle.
The 6yo looked sure to be swallowed up by a closing pack approaching the last before responding really well for Andrew Leigh, finding extra on the run-in to beat Go My Dream by 2 1/2L.
Noel Meade was another trainer in double form as Failte Arais swooped late under Nina Carberry to beat Care And Share by 3 1/2L in the bumper.
Alexander Buffet (8/11f) weakened quickly when headed off the home bend and could only manage fourth.
General Montcalm is on course for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham after leading before the last under Kevin Power to beat Harbour Pilot by four lengths in the hunter chase.
'He got everything right today, jumped well and looks like he's a much better horse this year,' said trainer Edward O'Grady.
Alan Magee
