Noel Meade and Paul Carberry teamed up for a double highlighted by the feature race win of Watson Lake in the Woodlands Park 100 Poplar Square Chase.
Watson Lake (4/6-8/15) was up with the pace throughout and asserted in the straight to beat Green Belt Flyer by a comfortable two and a half lengths.
'His jumping was not as flamboyant as usual but he just met a lot of them wrong. The John Durkan Chase at Punchestown next month is a definite possibility,' said Meade.
Carberry had an equally easy time aboard Iktitaf in the 4yo winners hurdle, quickly easing clear before the last to beat Finger Onthe Pulse by an effortless 3L.
'He got very light and weak after we gelded him but is really starting to fill out now. He loves soft ground and is in the Royal Bond,' said Meade.
The opening maiden hurdle appeared a match between three-time bumper winners Travino and Forty Licks, and so it proved as the pair fought out an exciting finish.
Forty Licks was driven past the 4/6 favourite between the final two flights but flattened the last and Conor O'Dwyer needed to be at his strongest to hold the renewed effort of Travino by 1/2L.
'Conor was critical of himself at the last but he jumped well otherwise. He showed guts to hold on and will go for the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan (Nov 27),' said trainer Edward O'Grady.
O'Dwyer was also in double form as Mansony put in an exemplary round of jumping in the 2m beginners chase and earn a 16/1 quote from Cashmans for the Arkle.
The Arthur Moore-trained gelding raced keenly in front, and cruised clear in the straight to beat Some Timbering by an effortless eight lengths.
'Conor gave him a lovely school and its nice to have that under his belt. He's in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse but we may keep him to two miles,' said Moore.
Paul Flynn was taken to Naas Hospital for an x-ray on his right arm after being unseated from Eko Deauville at the third last.
Vicars Way, the first horse owned by former Presidential candidate Derek Nally, dug deep on the run-in for Tom Ryan to take the three miles handicap chase.
The Old Vic gelding was only fourth over the last but stayed on under strong pressure to beat What A Native by a length with the front-running The Whipper just a head back in third.
'That was a good performance with his weight, and he improved a fair bit from his last run. He may go for the Paddy Power Cork Grand National next Sunday,' said trainer Pat Sinnott.
Flying Paragan caused a bit of a surprise when getting up on the far rail under Niall Madden to land the two miles handicap hurdle.
'The slower pace on this ground suited us but chasing will probably be his game as he's a great jumper,' commented trainer Edward Cawley.
City Deep made a winning debut in the bumper, drawing clear inside the final furlong for David Roche to beat Schindlers Hunt by eight lengths.
Alan Magee
