< Next Destination maintained his unbeaten record over obstacles with a victory in the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle.
Fourth in last season's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old began life over hurdles with impressive wins at this venue and Navan and was sent off 8-15 favourite to give his handler a fourth win in the Grade One event in the last five years.
Always going well for Paul Townend behind the pacesetting Jetz he took it up early in the home straight and had enough in the tank to repel the late surge of Cracking Smart by a length.
Mullins had already got on the scoresheet as French recruit Demi Sang justified strong market support to make a winning debut for the yard in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
Avenir D'une Vie looked in control approaching the last but the 11-10 favourite really began to respond for Barry Geraghty on the run in and wore down the front runner to score by a length and a quarter.
Mullins completed a treble, and Townend his double, when Asthuria justified 1-3 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase by a facile 15 lengths from Golden Flowerpower < Another Barney made a winning debut under Rules for Jessica Harrington in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle, with Robbie Power producing the 4-1 chance at the second-last and going on to beat Border Control by five and a half lengths.< Blue Empyrean made the most of bottom weight when taking the Eastcoast Seafood & Gouldings Hardware Handicap Chase.
With all seven runners in with a chance approaching the last, it was Keith Watson's charge that stayed on best for Andrew Ring and crossed the line two and a quarter lengths to the good from Eiri Na Casca < Mick The Boyo edged out Urbanist by a neck to score at 5-1 in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, while Espanito Bello (6-4) sent favourite backers home happy with a length-and-a-quarter success over Killacolla in the Rushe's Supervalu (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
