Lilly The Lioness clears the last on the way to victory under Brian O'Connell in race 2 at Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
We had a County Tipperary-trained winner of the first at Kilbeggan in Denis Hogan's Mysticaltou Ahead of Sunday's big showdown at Croke Park, Kilkenny evened the score in race two when Garrett Power's Lilly The Lioness landed the Pavexpress Handicap Hurdle in style.
Hogan's yard is profitable to follow at Kilbeggan, particularly after the 66/1 success of Myticaltou, but Power is long since a man to have on your side at the County Westmeath venue.
Some of that was down to a filly called White Feathers, a dual winner here back in 2012.
The Brian O'Connell-ridden Lilly The Lioness had been to Kilbeggan before, hitting the frame, but it all came together for the now flat, hurdle and chase winner as she travelled sweetly through this two miler.
The 8/1 chance (from 9s on course) led before the two out and she went on to triumph by five lengths from Cristy's Call (finished well after making a couple of slight mistakes).
O'Connell later remarked: "She's top class.
"I rode her last week in Bellewstown and she's been quite busy over the summer. I even said to Garrett after Bellewstown maybe it was just one step too far, that maybe she needed a break.
"Garrett said she went home and ate up so she obviously knew more than we did to go out and bounce back today." (EM)
