Mounthenry will not be in the Cheltenham raiding party this year but he gained his second Grade 2 win in the featured novice hurdle and now has the Punchestown Festival on his agenda.
Andrew McNamara was determined to go the shortest way around on the 11/10 market-leader and he got through a narrow gap when he challenged approaching the last.
The son of Flemensfirth stayed on well to beat Tengo Ambro by 2L and his trainer Charles Byrnes is unsure now whether he will run again or not before Punchestown.
'He is a decent horse but he is not a natural jumper of hurdles and the ground there was a bit soft for him,' suggested the Limerick handler.
Despite being an easy-to-back 2/1 favourite, Strong Project ran out a comfortable 8L all-the-way victor of the Cashel Fine Art Chase.
Johnny Allen's mount got in close three out and his pursuers got to within striking distance at the next, but it was soon apparent that the 10yo was on the way to a third course success.
His trainer Sean O'Brien said, 'Johnny gave him a super ride and when he gets his jumping right he is good. He will go to Aintree if the ground isn't fast.'
Haggle Twins made good use of his stamina in the beginners chase under Tom Ryan, always in front, the 8/1 shot dug deepest on the run-in to fend off his rivals by 2 1/2L.
Frances Crowley commented of the winner, 'he is tough and because he is high enough in the handicap over hurdles we went chasing and he will go handicapping now.'
Having her second start for Edward O'Grady, point-to-point winner, Nutmeg Tune, the 7/2 joint favourite, landed the maiden hurdle by 5L in the hands of Paddy Flood.
Another having their second outing for a new yard was Camlin River and he won the h'cap hurdle for Arthur Moore and David Casey by 2L.
Emmet Butterly, the big name apprentice from last season's flat, rode his first winner over hurdles on his eleventh attempt on Cosmo King in the maiden hurdle.
Michael Halford's charge was sent to the front by the seventeen-year-old at the second last and he stayed on strongly to beat Coolgreaney by ten lengths.
Running Wild and Scotsirish were notable absentees from the bumper due to the ground and this left the recent point-to-point scorer, Footy Facts at the head of the betting.
Liz Lalor's mount was backed from 3/1 into 9/4 and the Oscar gelding justified the support with a runaway 20L win for Robert Tyner.
Paul Carberry got a fall from Billy Bonnie and he missed a couple of rides later on owing to having a bruised foot.
