Beef Or Salmon won consecutive renewals of the Lexus Chase Leopardstown today, scoring an impressive win, to complete a big race double for jockey Paul Carberry.
Aintree Grand National winner made the running in the race before Forget The Past, under Davy Russell, took over from him three fences from home.
However, Beef Or Salmon was always travelling well and despite a slight mistake five out, moved smoothly to head Forget The Past early in the straight, being eased well down by Carberry in the closing stages.
The win means that Beef Or Salmon is a general 8/1 quote for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Carberry was earlier on board Noel Meade's Rosaker (7/1) who lowered Solerina's colours in an exciting renewal of the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle.
Solerina took up her customary front running duties but was headed by Emotional Moment four out.
Although Solerina did battle her way back into contention, her stamina eventually gave out, while Emotional Moment himself paid the price of a tough race and was eventually 'mugged' close home by Rosaker.
Trainer Ted Walsh has a star in his hands following the impressive win of his Southern Vic (5/2jf), in the Grade 1 Ascon/Roscon Novice Chase.
Ridden by Ted's son Ruby, Southern Vic made all for a 15 length win over Homer Wells with the impressed winning trainer later reported 'I was a bit disappointed with him at Navan last time but he looks a fair novice.'
He added 'he jumped super, loves soft ground and stays very well. There is a three mile race at Naas at the end of this month for him and while he has to make the next step up now, all the signs are that he will.'
The opening O'Dwyer's Stillorgan Orchard Maiden Hurdle saw an impressive winner, with John Carr's Sublimity scoring readily under Philip Carberry.
Rated 108 on the Flat, Sublimity transferred his middle distance speed to good use over hurdles, being produced to lead on the approach to the final flight before stretching five lengths clear at the line.
At Limerick, 19 year old amateur jockey Brian O'Connell landed the feature race, the Grade 3 ladbrokes.ie Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle, on Vic Venturi for trainer Philip Fenton.
O'Connell, from Boher in Limerick, is the son of former jockey and now Senior Inspector of Courses Val O'Connell.
Fenton later praised the jockey, commenting 'he is a lovely rider and didn't look out of place against the professionals there.'
Jockey Brian Byrnes continued on his winning ways, riding Nine O to a hat-trick of handicap hurdle wins in the 2m5f handicap hurdle.
