Henry de Bromhead's crack two-miler Sizing Europe displayed courage as well as talent as he claimed the boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown.
Sent off the 8-13 favourite after being placed in the last two runnings of the race, the 10-year-old jumped to the front past the pacesetting China Rock four out under Andrew Lynch.
Coming down the straight Realt Dubh looked a big danger in the testing conditions, but Sizing Europe would not be denied and battled on tenanciously to hold his rival by two and a quarter lengths.
Willie Mullins' Sir Des Champs (2-7 favourite) went into the Growise Champion Novice Chase heading the market for next season's Cheltenham Gold and he survived an almighty scare at the final fence before keeping his unbeaten record.
Sent off in front by Davy Russell, he was still there when he clouted the last and almost got rid of the jockey, but the partnership stayed intact and with nearest pursuer Mossey Joe falling and bringing down Frisco Depot he was able to saunter in by 36 lengths.< Alderwood displayed a gutsy attitude to get the better of the odds-on Trifolium in an epic finish to another Grade One contest, the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
A winner at both Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, Alderwood (5-2) looked booked for second when Trifolium went on between the final two flights, but Tom Mullins' charge responded well to Tony McCoy's urgings to claw back the deficit and win by half a length.
Mullins added a second valuable prize when newcomer Some Article (16-1) cleared away in the final furlong to take the Goffs Land Rover Bumper INH Flat Race by seven and a half lengths under Mark Fahey.
Philip Hobbs produced a magnificent training performance to send out top-weight Snap Tie (16-1) to win the boylesports.com Handicap Hurdle by two lengths under Richard Johnson after an absence of two and a half years.
