Nickname continued his domination of the Irish two miles chasing division this season with another easy win in the paddypowerpoker.com Newlands Chase.
Ruby Walsh never had an anxious moment on the 1/4 chance, heading the front-running Gemini Lucy between the final two fences for a facile 12L verdict.
'Ruby said they went a bit steady but he knew they would quicken up at some stage. We won't decide about Cheltenham until about three days before but I'm very happy with him,' said Martin Brassil.
Paddy Power and Ladbrokes both left Nickname unchanged at 7/1 for the Champion Chase.
Kazal completed a four-timer with a typically tough performance under Barry Geraghty in the Grade 2 paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle.
Eoin Griffin's charge and Callherwhatulike drew clear to battle it out in the straight, and the 5/2 favourite found a bit extra when Geraghty got really serious on the run-in to score by 1 1/4L.
Cashmans and Paddy Power both cut him two points to 10/1 for the Brit Insurance Novice Hurdle but he is far from certain to travel over to Cheltenham.
'The three miles and uphill finish there would be right up his street but I doubt if it will be soft enough,' said Griffin, who also reports Lounaos in top form.
'She did a piece of work yesterday and is really impressing me. I'll probably give her a day away at the Curragh before the Triumph.'
Benefit Night provided Mitchelstown trainer Daniel O'Sullivan with his biggest success to date when causing a 12/1 upset in the Anglo Irish Bank Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase.
The rapidly improving seven-year-old, who won a Thurles handicap two months ago off a mark of 86, made all under Barry Cash and held on by 1 1/4L from Letterman.
Schindlers Hunt (7/4fav) was hard ridden and not making any impression in fifth when falling at the final fence.
'He just loves that ground and has obviously improved a lot. He's won four races in a short space and that's it now for this season,' said O'Sullivan, who is training four years and has a team of 30 including point-to-pointers.
Heavenly Blues (7/4fav) showed the benefit of his hurdle debut at Punchestown earlier this month with a runaway victory for Ruby and Ted Walsh in the opening two miles maiden.
The German import jumped much better on this occasion, leading after two out and drawing right away on the run-in to beat Arctic Bear by 18L with Arbor Supreme a further 8L adrift in third.
The five-year-old is well entered up at Cheltenham but Walsh feels 'he doesn't have enough experience to be thrown in at the deep end' and is looking at a winners race either here or at Leopardstown in the next few weeks.
Oliver Brady once again held court in the winners enclosure after Maralan took the two miles handicap hurdle, leading off the home turn under Niki O'Shea to beat Cadogan by 4L.
'He needed to win today to get into the handicap for the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and hopefully he'll get a run now,' said the Monaghan handler.
Lotomore Lad (Donie Fahy) relished the stamina test of the three miles handicap hurdle, galloping clear after two out to beat Firey Steel by 14L to provide five lucky jackpot punters with a dividend of e1,542.
Bootlegger took the bumper in decisive fashion under Patrick Mullins but may not bid for a follow up in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Festival.
'He's a real decent horse and I'd look forward to going over hurdles with him next season,' said trainer Tom Mullins.
Alan Magee
