Kicking King suffered a shock defeat on his seasonal debut in the Daily Star Chase although trainer Tom Taaffe was 'extremely happy' with his 3L second to War Of Attrition.
Last season's top staying chaser was not ridden as aggressively as normal by Barry Geraghty but the 30/100 favourite still held every chance as he was in the air together with War Of Attrition and Pizarro two out.
War Of Attrition jumped to the front at this point as Pizarro lost ground jumping out to the right, and Conor O'Dwyer's mount stayed on best to score by 3L with Pizarro a shorthead back in third.
'It's obviously better if you can win but I'm extremely happy. I haven't brought him away at all to work and he needed that race under his belt. With that in mind, he's run a fantastic race' said Taaffe.
'I'm thrilled with the way he's jumped and that should put him spot-on for the Betfair Gold Cup at Haydock next month. I'd sooner he got beaten today than at Haydock and it's a long way to March,' he added.
Mouse Morris was understandably delighted with War Of Attrition but will resist taking on Kicking King again for the moment as he favours going to Down Royal next month.
'Everything got a bit rushed last season after his injury, and I don't think he has enough experience to be going to Haydock. He was fairly burly in the ring before todays race and should improve.'
Morris added, 'He will probably go to Down Royal for either the Grade 3 two and a half miles chase or the James Nicholson.'
Geraghty fared better elsewhere, initiating a double aboard the well-backed 2/1 favourite Queen Astrid (available at 7/2 in the morning) in the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle.
The Dermot Weld-trained five-year-old took over as the front-running Sweet Kiln dropped away quickly after three out, and she was in control in the straight to beat Time On Your Side by 3L.
'Her run in the Cesarewitch was very good, and she will go back to the Flat next time for the Leopardstown November Handicap providing there is a little cut in the ground,' said Weld.
He added, 'The way she jumps hurdles, she should make a lovely chaser. I may run her over fences at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting.'
Geraghty was also on the mark in the 2m4f handicap hurdle where Purple Shuffle dug deep when strongly challenged by Merrylas in the straight to score by half a length.
Mounthenry justified good support (8/1-5/1) in the opening maiden hurdle, stretching clear approaching the final flight under Andrew McNamara to beat Blueberry Boy by 6L.
The 11/8 favourite Merdeka, an impressive Leopardstown bumper winner last Christmas, didn't jump fluently and was eased when beaten after two out to finish ninth.
The winner paid 20/1 on the Tote and trainer Charles Byrnes commented, 'We'll run him again in about three weeks, and he'll probably stay at around two miles as he has plenty of pace.'
McNamara later doubled up as top-weight Charging (25/1 but paid over 55/1 on the Tote) stayed on too strongly for the gambled-on Too Much Chat (7/1-7/2) in the 2m4f handicap chase.
Shane Donohoe and Andrew Duff teamed up to land the amateur riders handicap chase with another surprise winner Frankie Dori (14/1), and the jackpot pool of 30,083 is rolled over to Fairyhouse on Saturday.
Sher Why Not made a successful debut in the bumper, leading well over a furlong out to beat Bay Venture by two and a half lengths.
Alan Magee
