Edward O'Grady's Tranquil Sea was cut to 8-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup by the sponsors after a facile victory in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas.
The 6-4 favourite put up a similarly impressive display first time out last season and connections will be hoping he holds his form better this time.
Andrew McNamara oozed confidence all the way round and though Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer was taken out on account of the soft ground, the likes of Trafford Lad Joncol and Made In Taipan gave the race strength in depth.
Made In Taipan was still in front when unseating two from home and it was left to Joncol to put up the biggest fight, but he was a length and a quarter down at the line, with Trafford Lad not far away in third.
While Paul Nolan may have had to settle for second with Joncol, his Noble Prince (1-2 favourite) made no mistake in the Tipper Road Hurdle.
Carrying the Harchibald colours of Des Sharkey, Alain Cawley was doing his best Paul Carberry impression all the way up the straight as he looked around for dangers.
His mount, a classy performer in France for Andre Fabre, looks booked for big things as he strolled clear of the useful Time Electric to win by three and a half lengths.
Nolan said: "I'm delighted with him and he proved today he handles any type of ground. I started him off too quickly over hurdles last season after gelding him, but he is a much stronger horse now.
"We will now aim him at the better staying races & ndash; he looks a very good horse, as his high Flat mark would suggest, and has taken well to hurdling."< River Liane a useful hurdler, made a winning chasing debut in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Beginners Chase as the 15-8 favourite.
"He was rated 147 over hurdles and if he does progress over fences he should be bang there in the better races," said winning trainer Tom Cooper.
"We have no immediate plans but he should get two and a half miles & ndash; the Drinmore Chase is a possibility all right."
