First-time cheek-pieces had a very positive impact on Kazal as the seven-year-old recaptured his best to land the featured Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com Boyne Hurdle.
On a surface as quick as he'd raced on, the French-bred swept aside any doubts on that score, leading from the seventh and putting in a powerful staying performance.
Aitmatov and Footy Facts had no answer to the Barry Geraghty-ridden winner from the last, the chestnut going on for a comfortable 3 1/2L win.
After an aborted two race chase campaign, Kazal lacked for fitness on his return to hurdling when third at Gowran, 24 days earlier, according to his trainer, Eoin Griffin.
Afterwards, the south Co. Kilkenny-based operator suggested, "the last day was his first completed race for ten months so he was entitled to need it.
"The cheek-pieces sharpened him up no end and he jumped brilliantly. He has an entry in the World Hurdle and with an ease in the ground he'll go there."
Twenty five to one seems to be the general quote now for Kazal for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday March 13th.
Barry Geraghty completed a double on the popular local winner, Brave Betsy, who lived up to her name with a short-head win in the maiden hurdle.
Michael Fitzsimons said of his well-backed 6/4 favourite, "the stiff track suited her and she'll go for the mares races at Fairyhouse and Punchestown."
Pomme Tiepy, with Ruby Walsh up, kept her unbeaten record on Irish soil intact, with another stroll to make it four in a row in the Grade 2 Keatings Oil Ten Up Novice Chase.
The 4/6 chance was clear from before two out and a mistake at the last made no difference as she went on for an easy 8L verdict over Kilcrea Castle.
Willie Mullins isn't so sure about Cheltenham for the French import, saying, "I'll have to talk to her owners and looks at the weights.
"I don't want to break her heart with too much racing as she is only five. She prefers winter ground too."
Maralan's love affair with Navan continued as he registered his fourth Proudstown Park success in the Kevin McManus Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
The Grade 2 affair seemed to be at the mercy of the front-running Clopf, but his last fence fall left the way clear for 50/1 rank outsider, Maralan.
On only his second chase start, Johnny Cullen's mount was then all-out to hold-off Dark Artist by three parts of a length.
Scotsirish, the well-supported favourite, made a bad mistake four out but came home really well to be a further length and three quarters back in third.
Triumphant trainer Oliver Brady was enjoying a welcome change of luck - this being his first winner since last May.
The Co. Monaghan handler said, "he can go anywhere after this and maybe he'll go to Naas next weekend for a handicap hurdle."
Kazal's stable companion, Caravino halved in price for the h'cap hurdle half-an-hour later but he was disappointing after a bad early mistake.
First time in this sphere, the lightly-weighted Sole Bonne Femme beat the favourite, Save The Bacon, in good fashion by 3 1/2L.
Philip Carberry combined with his uncle, Arthur Moore, for this 14/1 win. It was a special win for the latter.
He said, "it gave me a particular amount of pleasure to train this winner. He is owned by Eithne and Tony Fitzpatrick.
"They are the son and daughter of the late Paddy who had Manhattan Castle with me. This horse has struggled in heavy ground before now.
"He will run in a Novice Handicap Hurdle in three weeks time in Fairyhouse and he'll make a nice chaser in time."
A major gamble came unstuck when Gold Spear (16s in the morning into 5/1) came down at the first in the h'cap chase.
Here that old-warrior, Mutineer (nine now and competing since his 2yo days) caused a 33/1 shock (82/1 on Tote) for Dessie Hughes and Roger Loughran.
A 60,000 guineas purchase at Cheltenham last April, Horner Woods justified the high regard that his former trainer, Denis Leahy held him in.
Victorious in a point-to-point at Dundrum for Charleville-based Leahy, the son of Presenting is now under the care of Jessica Harrington.
He defeated Citizen Vic by 3L in the hands of Mark Fahey and he was returned at odds of 6/1 in what was probably a decent contest.
Eamonn Murphy
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