Bell Ex One, near side, pops the last on his way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Bell Ex One defied a penalty to land the 3yo hurdle at Punchestown under in-form jockey Jack Foley.
Foley delivered him to challenge Calvados at the final flight. Bell Ex One was nudged along into the lead with 150 yards to travel and held fast-finishing Sea Sessions by half a length.
The winner returned the 4/5 favourite from the 11/2 runner-up. Sea Sessions ran a good race in second having been backed in from 8/1. She raced in rear and had to nimbly avoid the first-flight faller Captain Clever Calvados gave best in third at 9/2, beaten a length and three quarters by the winner.
Bell Ex One built upon a 3yo hurdle victory in Listowel where he had Calvados seven lengths back in third.
Jockey Foley saw his 7lb claim cut to 5lb after a treble at Downpatrick on Friday. This was his seventh winner in October.
Trainer Ray Cody said: “I say the ground was as quick as he wants it and he was going as quick as he wanted all the way.
“Jack just loves him and says he's a proper horse. He said his jumping was electric today, he was shortening and going long when he wanted him to. He said he was a different horse completely.
“I'd say slower ground will be a big help to him. They went a good gallop but he was happy with him the whole way, he said even at the last he was long but he came for him.
“He said he was doing nothing in front from the last home, only idling. I'm delighted.
“If he won today the plan was to either go to Cheltenham for the November meeting or else go to Fairyhouse at the end of November.
“I think I might go to Cheltenham, if he's really good in the meantime, for the juvenile hurdle there. I think he'd love it around there.
“He just eats and sleeps and comes out of his races brilliant so we might go there, we'll see how he is.
“I think he's the best three-year-old so far anyway, so I'm delighted with him.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
