Colm Murphy's star Big Zeb returned to competitive action with a hard-fought third successive victory in a thrilling Fortria Chase at Navan.
The 2010 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner was ridden for the first time by Robbie Power, who may have found himself in front plenty soon enough as he took over from Forpadydeplasterer after the third-last, with Noble Prince stalking them.
The trio engaged in a terrific battle up the run-in and Big Zeb (6-5) got the better of the argument by two lengths from favourite Noble Prince, with Forpadydeplasterer keeping on in game fashion to take third, another head away.
Murphy scored another big success when smart mare Voler La Vedette (2-1) eased into her campaign with a convincing Grade Two victory in the Lismullen Hurdle.
In rear early on under Andrew Lynch, she closed on the leaders travelling smoothly and led two out before striding clear to beat Fully Funded by three and a quarter lengths, with favourite Mikael D'Haguenet tiring into third.
The market proved right when 13-8 favourite Il Fenomeno got the better of his Noel Meade-trained stable companion Dylan Ross to land the 'For Auction' Novice Hurdle.
The pair were together over the final two flights in the Grade Three contest and it was Il Fenomeno who proved the stronger, forging clear under Davy Russell to win by a length and three-quarters.< Boston Bob (4-11 favourite) looks to have a bright future judged on his smooth-as-silk victory in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle for the in-form team of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
Getting leading owner Graham Wylie off the mark in Ireland with his first runner, the six-year-old joined Six Senses at the head of affairs two flights out and coasted away to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Tony Martin's Bog Warrior (9-4 joint-favourite) showed immense promise in clearing away from the front to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase by seven and a half lengths in the hands of Russell.
