< Boston Bob took the step up to Grade One level in his stride with a superb performance to land the Navan Novice Hurdle on another big day for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

The six-year-old (9-4), running in the colours of Graham Wylie, had signalled his immense promise when a course and distance winner on his debut for the yard last month.

Odds-on favourite Mount Benbulben who continually jumped out to the right, took them along but had no answer when Boston Bob was driven past going to the final flight. There were four and a half lengths in it at the line.

Mullins' Zaidpour was sent off the 1-3 favourite in a field of four for the Tara Hurdle and never gave his supporters a moment's anxiety as he won the Grade Two contest with supreme ease.

Ruby Walsh tracked Prima Vista all the way and when he gave Zaidpour a nudge the response was immediate as the five-year-old flew the last and cleared away to score by 10 lengths.

There was an extraordinary contest for the other Grade Two on the card, the Irish Form Book 'Future Champions' INH Flat Race, in which Rory O'Moore built up a huge lead and looked to have stolen the race.

A winner in similar circumstances at Cork last week, the 25-1 outsider had everything bar 4-6 shot Don Cossack cooked turning into the straight, where Nina Carberry was hard at work on the favourite.

Gordon Elliott's charge made relentless progress, however, and grabbed the long-time leader well inside the final furlong to score by a length and a half.

Bryan Cooper, just back from an injury lay-off, picked up a spare ride on Battling Boru in the Christmas Cracker Handicap Hurdle and rode a patient race on Tony Mullins' 16-1 shot, jumping into the lead at the last and forging a length and a half clear.

The last three races were abandoned as the chase course was judged to be still frozen in places.