Paul Nolan had to settle for third with Joncol again in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, but Golden Sunbird provided him with some small consolation at Limerick.

Stable star Joncol was repeating his effort of 2009 in the Grade One feature, but Golden Sunbird showed plenty of guts to prevail by a head from Out Now in the Holmes O'Malley Sexton Maiden Hurdle.

"She is game and she is tough and we won't hang around with her over hurdles for too much longer," said Nolan's brother James.

"We'll look at a three-mile hurdle next - that's what she probably wants."

Knockfierna justified 2-1 favouritism with a short-head verdict over Start Me Up in the Grade Three Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle.

Trained by Charles Byrnes and ridden by Niall Madden, a good leap at the last ensured she just shaded it.< Drive On Jim (12-1) made quite an impression as he ran out an 11-length winner of the Freeman Keane Associates Handicap Chase.

"He came to life lately and his wind was very good today," said winning trainer and jockey Denis Hogan.

"He was nicely enough handicapped but he is even better handicapped over hurdles and he'll probably go back for a hurdle now. He won a handicap hurdle around here before."< Gentle Alice (4-1) could take a step up in class after her 12-length victory over Shirley Casper in the Woodlands House Mares Beginners Chase.

Winning trainer Daniel Murphy said: "She came on from her last run (an unlucky fourth at Thurles). She won a point-to-point and her maiden hurdle at Thurles. Chasing was always going to be her game.

"I'm not sure where we'll go now but there is a Listed mares' chase in Thurles at the end of January and she might go there."