Sublimity booked his place in the Champion Hurdle line-up, earning a 50/1 quote from Cashmans, after easily dispatching his 16 rivals in the 2m winners' hurdle.
John Carr's charge was sent off the 1/3 favourite, and jumped to the front two out before being ridden out after the last by Philip Carberry to beat Sulla by 20 lengths.
'He had to win like that and won't run again until Cheltenham. He was held up with a virus around Christmas but goes well fresh,' said the Maynooth trainer.
'His other option at Cheltenham is the County Hurdle but he would have a lot of weight in that, and we're going to go for the Champion,' said Carr.
Callherwhatulike ended a frustrating sequence of seconds by showing an abundance of stamina under Barry Geraghty in the 2m7f maiden hurdle.
There was plenty of drama at the first hurdle where Tankerstown fell and brought down three horses including Corrigeenroe, whose rider Denis O'Regan stood himself down with a leg injury.
Deep Thinker was injured in the melee and unfortunately had to be put down.
'She's a big, strong mare and the track really suited her. We will aim her at the valuable two and a half miles novice mares Final race at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting,' said trainer Robert Tyner.
Geraghty later completed a double when deputising for O'Regan aboard Back To Bid in the three miles beginners chase.
The Noel Meade-trained stayer put up a much improved round of jumping, going clear before two out to beat Ballytrim by 11 lengths.
Meade paid tribute to Geraghty for the gelding's improved jumping and, depending on how he comes out of this race, the P J Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown in a fortnight is a possibility.
Bronx Girl was prominent throughout in the two miles maiden hurdle, jumping well under Kevin Coleman to hold the challenge of Max Almighty by 1 3/4L.
'She keeps going well and is only five so should improve,' was the verdict of trainer Francis Flood, who will aim her at a mares winners race and added 'she's big enough to jump a fence'.
Old School also looks another chasing type, and the Andrew Oliver-trained gelding shouldered top-weight to victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Andrew Leigh's mount got the better of a protracted battle in the straight with Hows Trix, asserting in the closing stages to score by two lengths.
'He's a 3m chaser in the making and takes all the work you can throw at him. He's the shape of a chaser and only starting to fill out his frame. He'll move up in grade for another handicap hurdle,' said Oliver.
A 2 1/2m handicap at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day is the plan for Bella's Baileys, who drew clear from the last under Niall Madden in the 2m1f handicap chase to beat the well-backed Giolla De by 6L.
'She was given a lot to do the last day at Down Royal and should have really won,' said trainer Mervyn Torrens.
Dunguaire Lad made virtually all the running in the 2m1f beginners chase, rallying strongly for Martin Mooney when taken on by Washington Lad two out to score by 4 1/2L.
Alan Magee
