< Petit Mouchoir (9-10 fav) strengthened his Cheltenham Festival credentials by claiming another Grade One prize at Leopardstown, this time in the BHP Insurance Champion Hurdle.
Henry de Bromhead's grey hasn't looked back since falling in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and was imperious once again, travelling powerfully from the front and jumping slickly throughout.
Although Nichols Canyon kept tabs on him for much of the way, he looked a spent force when coming down at the last and it was Footpad who threw down the final challenge, finishing strongly to close the gap to a length.< Some Plan (100-30) landed a dramatic renewal of the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Following the early departures of Identity Thief and Bleu Et Rouge Royal Caviar looked set to collect when approaching the last seemingly full of running.
However, he met the fence all wrong and his crashing fall allowed Some Plan to come home in splendid isolation.< Let's Dance led home a 1-2 for Willie Mullins when seeing off stablemate Kemboy in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors "50,000 Cheltenham Bonus Stable Staff" Novice Hurdle.
The 8-11 market leader never had a moments worry as she swooped clear entering the home straight and although Kemboy finished to good effect, Let's Dance still had six lengths in hand at the line.< Melon (4-9 fav) went some way to justifying his tall reputation when making an impressive winning Irish debut in the opening Donohue Marquees Maiden Hurdle.
The leading Supreme Novices' fancy cruised round in the hands of Ruby Walsh before easing ten lengths clear of frontrunner Broken Soul having taken over after the second last.
There was a dramatic finish to the Sandyford Handicap Chase as Elusive Ivy (6-1) edged out Powersbomb by a head while Debuchet (13-8 joint-fav) made light work of his rivals in the concluding Leopardstown Club Membership Flat Race, coming home six lengths to the good.
