Newmill warmed up for the defence of the Queen Mother Champion Chase next month by upsetting a number of leading Champion Hurdle contenders in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle.
Macs Joy was sent off the 4/9 favourite in this Grade 2 event following a promising reappearance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
However he proved no match for John Murphy's charge who set a strong pace under Andrew McNamara before drawing clear between the final two flights to beat the hot-pot by 8L.
Laetitia stayed on in eye-catching fashion after a long lay-off to take third, while Harchibald weakened from two out to finish last of the five runners.
'The 8lb weight concession obviously made a difference but he showed toughness after they came up to him three out,' said Murphy.
'The hurdle course is in brilliant order as I walked it beforehand and was surprised how soft it was. I was afraid it might have dried out a bit and been tacky, in which case we might have pulled him out today.'
'I'm not sure if he'll work away from home between now and Cheltenham but he's on course now for the Champion Chase,' added Murphy.
The heavy ground was blamed by the riders of both Macs Joy and Harchibald, and Jessica Harrington said, 'I felt Newmill was the danger in receipt of 8lb and sometimes they run a bit flat on their second run back.'
Cashmans took a dim view of their Champion Hurdle prospects with Macs Joy pushed out to 16/1 (from 6's) and Harchibald 33/1 (from 14's). Newmill was generally cut to 7/2 for the Champion Chase.
Watson Lake belatedly opened his account this season, and completed a quick double for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry, when landing the Red Mills Chase at generous odds of 3/1.
The Be My Native gelding led from after halfway, going clear before three out to beat Mansony by five lengths.
'He just took no interest the last day and may have been frightened by a previous fall so I told Paul to go on today if he was travelling well.'
He will be taken out of the Champion Chase and Gold Cup at the next acceptance stage and more than likely will stay at home for a race at Navan he won last year. I don't think Cheltenham is his place,' said Meade.
Khetaam initiated the 11/1 double when also prominent throughout under Carberry in the two and a quarter miles beginners chase.
The nine-year-old gelding landed in front two out and, despite a slight mistake at the last, held the late surge of Priests Leap by a head with Ballytrim two and a half lengths away in third.
Meade indicated afterwards that he will be entered for the Jewson Novice Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and said 'we could be tempted if he got into the handicap.'
'He would prefer better ground and you will probably see him in blinkers next time as he's just minding himself.'
The Meade/Carberry combination were also fancied to land the 4yo maiden hurdle with Alqaab but he could find no extra after two out as Duty stretched clear for Davy Russell to beat Belord by 5 1/2L.
'I was worried about the ground but Davy said he handled it well. He's in the Triumph but we'll see how he progresses and there's always Fairyhouse and Punchestown,' said trainer Kevin O'Brien.
Bad Day Bad Day gave the Macs Joy team of Mrs Harrington and Barry Geraghty something to smile about when taking the maiden hurdle in fine style.
The giant grey gelding made all and asserted in the straight for an easy ten lengths verdict over newcomer Silent Creek.
'He's improved with each of last three runs and will be a nice chasing prospect for next year,' said the Moone trainer.
There was a terrific finish to the handicap hurdle as Quintero rallied under a determined Sean Flanagan to beat Sea To Sky by 1/2L with Marhaba Million, who lost significant ground when hampered before three out, a short-head back in third.
Cara Mara caused a shock in the bumper with John Berry's newcomer (20/1 but paid 220.90 on the Tote) finished best in the testing ground under Mark Scallon.
Alan Magee
