Limestone Lad (1/3-2/7f) underlined his Cheltenham credentials yet again when turning the 3m Boyne Hurdle into a procession.
Unchanged at 6/1 with Cork firm Cashmans for the Stayers Hurdle next month, he came home 20l clear of Sallie's Girl after an impeccable round of hurdling.
'I gave him a breather after the half-way stage and he's in super form,' said winning rider Shane McGovern.
'We have the Cheltenham tickets booked,' beamed Phylis Bowe while her husband Jim added of Limestone Lad, ' He's a super horse and won't run again until the Stayers.'
Michael Hourigan ruled out the stayers hurdle for Dorans Pride opting instead to run Tom Doran's gelding in the Gold Cup.
Racing opened with the well supported Lyreen Wonder (2/1-6/4f) landing the spoils hard held in the hands of in-form Conor O'Dwyer.
Arthur Moore said, 'He's taken a while to get his act together but did it well and he'll run here again in 3 weeks time in a #20,000 novice handicap over 3m.'
Moore was back in the winners enclosure later when Conor O'Dwyer made all the running on More Than A Stroll (9/2-4/1) to bring his seasonal tally to 50.
Paul Carberry, unshipped from Third Agenda at the 7th in the opener, was taken to hospital for observation.
Barry Geraghty later deputised for the injured Meathman to score aboard Arctic Copper (6/4-2/1-7/4f) in the maiden hurdle after which Noel Meade said;
'Paul got a nasty bruise on the back of his head and also got a kick on his back but it could have been a lot worse.'
Willyelkra, disqualified at Listowel last September, compensated connections when holding on for a narrow victory over Knockrigg in the 2m handicap hurdle.
Local rider Paddy Stringer, who weighed in light resulting in his demotion from 1st place last year, was recording his 2nd victory in the plate.
'I wish I could get a decent horse to train sometime and this fellow along with his half-brother Willyever will go to Wolverhampton on Thursday, ' said John Bowles.
Emmett Stack was banned for 2 days for using his whip excessively aboard the runner-up Knockrigg.
Paul Moloney sent Francines-Boy on after the second last flight to easily land the 4yo hurdle with Wild Arms (1/1f) 3rd and former Aidan O'Brien inmate Genghis Khan (10/1) 4th.
Bookmakers got a result in the finale when Tollymore Road and Brian Hamilton stayed on well to defeat Placid Man by 4l.
BF
