Southern Vic made a winning return to action at Naas on Saturday when running out a comfortable victor of the paddypowerpoker.com Poplar Square Chase.
Ted Walsh's charge, a top staying novice last year, was racing over an inadequate two miles but stamped his class on the Grade 3 event.
The field was reduced to four after Slim Pickings pulled up early and the quartet were all in contention approaching two out.
Southern Vic hit the front at the last, under Conor O'Dwyer, and stayed on well to prove two-and-a-half lengths too strong for Macs Flamingo.
The Troytown Chase at Navan (November 26th) or the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (November 25th) at Newbury were put forward as possible targets for the winner.
'He did what you'd expect. He's a good staying horse and some day he might even make it to Aintree,' said Walsh.
6/4 f Finger Onthe Pulse proved a game winner of the Woodlands Park 100 Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty sent the Tom Taaffe-trained gelding to the front four out and he answered every call down the straight to repel the late challenge of Pacolet by a length.
Geraghty was recording a double having earlier partnered classy Flat recruit Catch Me to victory in the opening Naas Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle.
The 8/11f went on after three out and he quickened well from the last for a cosy two-length victory over the staying-on Sigma Digital.
Le Toscan caused an upset in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle when proving too strong for 4/11f Leading Run.
Michael O'Brien's charge took it up from front-runner Eternal Lady before two out and stayed on strongly to score by 10 lengths, ending Leading Run's unbeaten record.
25/1 shot Best World, running for Tony Martin for the first time, claimed the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Handicap Chase while Katowice collared Iron Hague close home in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Denis O'Regan partnered the first treble of his career down at Wexford, including two for boss Noel Meade.
New Zealand imports Hard Scuffle and Irish Nation landed the two maiden hurdles on the card in the colours of Eamon Cleary.
Philip Rothwell provided the other winner for O'Regan when Mission Possible claimed the Casey Enterprise Handicap Hurdle.
O'Regan's only other mount Abbeybraney (4/6f) was a hotpot in the Ellickson Engineering Novice Hurdle but was collared close home by 20/1 shot Massini Magic.
