Florishwells D'ete (left) jumps the last from Space Ship before going on to take the fifth at Gowran© Photo Healy Racing
< Un De Sceaux (1-14) extended his unbeaten run to seven with a bloodless victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.
Willie Mullins' charge may well have booked a ticket to the Champion Hurdle with this all-the-way win, as Ruby Walsh barely had to move a muscle to land the Grade Two.< Midnight Game fared best of the three rivals, but Un De Sceaux's remorseless gallop under a motionless Walsh left him 16 lengths clear at the line.
Mullins and Walsh made it a double when Florishwells D'Ete struck on his hurdling debut in the Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle.
The 4-7 favourite had won on the level on fast ground and showed testing conditions hold no fears when beating Space Ship by two and three-quarter lengths.
Tom Taaffe's Argocat caused something of an upset to land the Red Mills Chase.
Sent off the 10-1 outsider of the four runners for the Grade Two, he looked to be travelling well when both Aupcharlie and the tiring Bog Warrior came to grief two out.
A sloppy jump at the last from Argocat gave Turban a glimmer of hope, but Brian O'Connell galvanised the six-year-old to score by three-quarters of a length.< Leavethelighton went close on a number of occasions in bumpers and over timber without winning, but he opened his account at the first try over fences in the Join Us On Saturday 8th March For Kilkenny GAA Day Beginners Chase.
Michael Butler slipped clear before the third last on the 4-1 chance, and though favourite Followmeuptocarlow gave chase, he was still three-quarters of a length down at the line.
Denis Hogan rode and trained Zekarya (9-1) to victory in the Holden Plant Rentals Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase, while the Treacy Hotel Group Handicap Hurdle went to 10-1 chance Hazariban
