< Goose Man took the next step up the ladder with a workmanlike success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase at Down Royal.

Tom Taaffe's seven-year-old has taken well to fences and having struck at Navan in December, he was the well-backed 10-11 favourite to follow up.

He was pressing Robin Des Mana for the lead when a mistake put him on the back foot two out, but he regained his composure and Andrew Lynch got him home by a length and three-quarters.

Lynch completed a double when the Henry de Bromhead-trained Celtic Rising took the Sean Graham Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle as the 7-4 favourite with the minimum of fuss.< Gun Digger broke his jumping duck in the Silks At DownRoyal Rated Novice Hurdle.

The 2-1 chance, who won a bumper and has performed with credit in decent company since going over timber, showed his appreciation for the step up to the best part of two and a half miles by going nine lengths away from Guided By You < Blue Empyrean defied a market drift to come out on top in the Robert McCoubrey Handicap Chase.

Up 6lb for his Naas success a few weeks ago, the 11-2 shot was one of four separated by less than a length on the run to the final obstacle, but he cleared it well and stretched two and three-quarter lengths away from Ardmillan < Our Boy Boru (5-1) dug deep to deny Swift in the Bet With The Tote Handicap Hurdle.

The pair were locked together at the last, which Swift jumped better, but Our Boy Boru wouldn't lie down and responded to all of Robbie Colgan's urgings to triumph by half a length.< Benarty Hill (8-1) broke through with a determined display in the Down Royal Handicap Chase, while Well Set Up (20-1) made a sparkling start to her career in the St. Patrick's Day Punters Pack Flat Race.