Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott enjoyed another big race success as Salford City took the Grade 2 Killerk Construction Tipperary Hurdle under a marvellous front-running ride from Nina Carberry.
Carberry's brother Paul threw down a challenge off the home turn aboard favourite Definate Spectacle but Salford City found plenty to beat that rival by 3 1/2L.
'The ground is the key to him and Nina was brilliant. She steadied it up and dictated it wonderfully. We may bring him to Cheltenham next month if the ground is right,' said Elliott.
'Hopefully chasing will be his thing next year as he's schooled great already,' added Elliott who also had news of his National hero.
'Silver Birch will run in the cross country race at Cheltenham next month as a stepping stone towards heading back to Aintree again.'
Norther Bay made all in the Grade 3 Ballykisteen Hotel & Golf Resort Joe Mac Novice Hurdle, setting a blistering pace under David Casey and keeping on well to beat Mahrajaan by two lengths.
'We think a lot of him and it takes a good horse to go with him but he is quirky. He was difficult to saddle today and we took him to the start early,' said trainer Eoin Griffin.
'He must have good ground and we will probably bring him back next spring for Aintree or Punchestown,' he added.
Casey later doubled up when the Colm Murphy-trained Total Victory beat stable-companion Frontier Lady by three and a half lengths in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.
Murphy recorded his own double on the afternoon when Zaarito quickened up inside the final furlong to beat Giant Eagle by 1 1/2L in the bumper.
French Accordion relished the sound surface to defy his lowly handicap mark in the Grade 3 O'Dwyer Steel Like-A-Butterfly Novice Chase.
John Cullen's mount challenged the front-running favourite Cool Running in the straight, leading before the last before going clear to score by four lengths.
'We were throwing him in at the deep end as he was all wrong on figures. I thought there were holes in the opposition, and his jumping is so good, so we decided to let him take his chance,' said Paul Nolan.
He added, 'He won't race during the winter as he just can't handle bad ground, and we'll probably aim him at some good races in the spring.'
Nolan also had news of the winner's brother Accordion Etoile saying, 'He didn't work well enough to run today but will have a run either on the Flat or over hurdles before going back chasing.'
The Group 3 Coolmore Stud sponsored Concorde Stakes was the highlight on the Flat section of the card, and the Mick Halford-trained Eastern Appeal just held on in a blanket finish.
Michael Kinane sent her to the front a furlong out but she needed to be kept right up to her work to hold the fast finishing Excelerate by a neck, with King Jock also coming home well a head back in third.
'She's tough and Mick said she idled in front but was always doing enough. We will consider taking her to America for a Grade 1 as we don't have a lot to lose this time of the season,' said Halford.
Senor Benny recorded his second Listed success and ninth career victory when taking the five furlongs Abergwaun Stakes in fine style under Declan McDonogh.
The eight-year-old was brought across from his low draw towards the stands side, and quickened clear from the furlong pole to beat City Of Tribes by two and a half lengths.
'We'll try to find a Group 3 for him in France and he'll stay in training for another year now,' said delighted trainer Kevin McDonagh.
King Of Rome was all the rage in the 2yo maiden, and the son of Montjeu showed the benefit of his Galway debut by storming clear in the final furlong for Seamie Heffernan to beat Song In My Heart by 5 1/2L.
Alan Magee
