< Hidden Cyclone (5-4) booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with an impressive success in the Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

Shark Hanlon 's stable star settled well in front and was travelling best before extending his advantage on the run home.

A brief shake of the reins from Andrew McNamara after the final flight helped keep Hidden Cyclone's mind on the job and he eventually won by five lengths from Bright New Dawn

That result provided tonic for favourite backers who had endured a torrid afternoon leading up to the feature event.

The signs were ominous when the heavily-backed favourite Quantitativeeasing (8-11) could only manage fourth spot in the opening P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase.< Ballyboker Bridge (20-1) profited from the disappointing jolly to swoop late and deny the equally easy-to-back Owens Pride (66-1) by one and a half lengths.

The punters' misery was compounded when Open Eagle - an impressive winner of the November Handicap on his final start for former connections - was unable to get his head in front in the Michael Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

His price of 8-13 underlined his popularity in the market but he was unable to reel in Total Recall (13-2), who put two and a half lengths between himself and the runner-up Oscar Knight < Embracing Change (7-2) recorded a visually impressive victory in the Claim Your Free Trial At racinguk.com Grand National Trial Handicap Chase.

Robert Tyner's gelding was winning for the fourth successive time but clearly remained well-handicapped when eased down to score by one and a half lengths from Portrait King

The competitive Pertemps Handicap Hurdle saw a thrilling finish go the way of Lean Araig (11-1), who battled doggedly to win by a head from the 7-4 favourite Mydor in the dying strides.

That followed a success for Bentelimar (4-1) who survived some sloppy jumping to win the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle by three and a half lengths from All Hell Let Loose