Alpine Eagle has Jessica Harrington already dreaming of Cheltenham glory next March after recording his second Flat win in effortless fashion.
The son of Golan was all the rage (8/11-4/9) in the featured mile and a half conditions race, and the 3yo readily dispatched his two rivals for a facile victory under Colm O'Donoghue.
The race was over in a matter of strides once asked to quicken up coming out of the back straight and he went clear to beat Murtagh by 22 lengths.
'Colm said he's improved again from his last run at Galway, and that will give him plenty of confidence. He would have done more in a gallop at home,' said Mrs Harrington.
The Moone trainer added, 'Hurdling is the main plan and we would like to be at Cheltenham next March.'
Cheddar Island was snapped up for 27,000 after recording his second claimer win in the space of a month in the opening nine furlongs event.
Declan McDonogh's mount, easy in the market from 1/2 out to 8/11, made all and kept on well under pressure in the straight to beat Arcelie and was later claimed by Gerry Tierney.
Sara Cara, successful at Killarney last month, put a disappointing effort at Galway behind her when taking the nine furlongs handicap under Rory Cleary.
The John Joe Walsh-trained filly also made most of the running and maintained her advantage from the home turn to beat My Dolly Madison by a length and a half.
'She had a bad draw at Galway and can be a temperamental filly. We'll probably find something for her at Tralee', said Walsh, who was full of praise for Cleary's riding.
Paul Gilligan amazing run of success continued when Piano Star justified favouritism under Ruby Walsh in the beginners chase.
A last fence faller when still in front at Kilbeggan last month, the Darshaan gelding was left in front when Wishwillow Lord crashed out at the fourth last, going on to beat Jolly Jingles by 1 1/2L.
'I'm not sure where he'll go next but it looks like he'll be a better chaser than a hurdle horse,' said the Craughwell hanlder, who has sent out six winners in the past two weeks.
Punters also got it right in the other chase on the card, the two miles and a furlong handicap, where Air Of Confusion landed a tidy gamble.
Available at 5/1 in the morning, the Iggy Madden-trained gelding was supported down to 2/1 favourite on course and led between the final two fences for Shane Jackson to beat Clochmhaoil Castle by a cosy 3 1/2L.
Mountain Melody got a nice run up the inner in the straight for Pat Smullen to touch off Brochure by half a length in the mile and a half handicap.
Fillmein (Mark Fahey) showed a smart turn of foot on the run-in to beat Blaze Trailer by 3 1/2L in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle.
Alan Magee
