Friend's Amigo, impressive winner of a bumper at Naas 17 months ago, notched up his second success over timber in the hands of Ruby Walsh when taking the pigsback.com Novice Hurdle.
Supported from 7/4 to 11/8, the 6yo eventually responded to the former champion's urgings on the run down to the last to forge ahead on the run-in and stayed on under pressure to come home with 3 1/2L to spare over Nobody Told Me.
'The ground was a big worry,' said trainer Pat Doyle. 'He's a big raw horse but is 7lbs better on better ground and we'll go to Liverpool with him next.'
Rathgar Beau is also Liverpool bound after following up on his recent Thurles success when accounting for market rival Glens Music in the 2m Kilcock Novice Chase.
'Aintree is the plan now. The ground won't bother him as long as it's not firm,' said trainer Eamonn 'Dusty' Sheehy, who will saddle his first Cheltenham Festival runner when Kahuna contests the Champion Bumper on Wednesday.
Tom Foley's Yogi completed a quick hat trick over hurdles when romping home under Garrett Cotter in the 2m handicap hurdle.
Tell Me See made every yard a winning one for John Burke to land the opening 3m maiden hurdle with market leader Poker Pal finishing only 6th after coming under press approaching the penultimate flight.
Tony O'Reilly, fresh from watching Ireland win narrowly over France at Lansdowne Road yesterday, was present to watch his charge Cadou Royal justify favouritism in the 2m handicap chase.
Conor O'Dwyer always had the 7yo prominent throughout before taking it up over the second last and held the challenge of Nearly A Moose in a tight finish. 'He'll go for a 0-123 handicap at Navan in a fortnight,' said trainer Arthur Moore.
Val O'Brien's light-weight On the Jetty and David Casey survived a stewards enquiry to record her first success in the 2m3f handicap hurdle while John Bleahen's newcomer Tigerlion (7/1-5/1) headed Kronos Des Obeaux close home to win the finale under Mark Darcy.
