Moscow Flyer on course for Tingle Creek rematch with Azertyuiop
Completing back-to-back wins in the Navan feature, the 30/100 favourite had shaken off the attentions of Rathgar Beau when that rival blundered and unseated Shay Barry at the final fence.
Left well clear, Moscow Flyer coasted home twenty-five lengths clear of Arctic Copper to record the twenty-second win of his long and illustrious career.
"I've been very happy with him and he seems as good as ever," declared his relieved trainer Jessica Harrington. "He jumped really well and winged the last two, when it was needed. But he doesn't do a stroke in front and Barry said he was idling all the way from the second last but had the other horse beaten when he crashed out."
Mrs Harrington confirmed the Tingle Creek, the race in which he beat Azertyuiop last year, as Moscow Flyer's immediate objective, commenting: "We've got to take him on sometime" and, regarding later plans, she added, "We're taking it one race at a time. The King George is still in my mind. But we'll wait until after Sandown before making any decisions."
Earlier, the Bowe family's remarkable mare Solerina returned to winning form when outpointing Rosaker in the Philips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle. Solerina made most of the running, although headed briefly by the runner-up a mile from home, and sealed victory when widening her advantage turning for home.
"I'm delighted with that," said the mare's owner John Bowe. "We gave her a week off after the Curragh and just hoped she was fit enough for today."
"Garry (Hutchinson) said she wasn't in love with the ground. It was dead and she prefers when it's looser. She jumped a bit right and is probably better going right-handed. She's very adaptable, but I believe that the ground is more important to her than the trip."
Bowe added: "Fairyhouse suits her better than most tracks. And that's where she's going next (for the Hatton's Grace). It should be a great race, against Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca."
The rest of the meeting belonged to local trainer Noel Meade who completed a treble with Wild Passion, Watson Lake and Freddie Foster, which got up in the last strides to pip Tomorrow's Dream in the second division of the bumper.
Wild Passion, a Group 3 winner on the flat in Germany, recorded his first hurdle success when beating Justified in the Grade 3 Bank Of Ireland For Auction Novice Hurdle. Meade explained: "I think lack of fitness beat him at Roscommon. But I'd say he's a very useful horse. He'll probably stay further in time, but he'll stay at two miles for now. He's entered in the 'Royal Bond' and I wouldn't be surprised if he goes there."
Meade unleashed another potential star when Watson Lake produced an impressive chasing debut performance to beat classy rivals Fota Island and Tiger Cry in the Beginners Chase.
Soon in front, this strapping six-year-old jumped impeccably to record an easy six lengths win, prompting trainer Meade to comment: "Paul and myself agree that we've never schooled a horse with so much scope. He spent two weeks with Con Power and, after Paul schooled him over six fences during the week, he told me not to school him any more, that he couldn't be any better."
Meade plans to keep Watson Lake to two miles in the foreseeable future, hoping to give him one more run behind aiming him at the €100,000 Durkan New Homes Novice Chase (formerly the Dennys) at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival.
On another bleak days for the bookmakers, the Charles Byrnes-trained debutant Vintage Treasure, confidently handled by Leonard Flynn, justified a tidy gamble (9/4 - 5/4) in the first division of the bumper.
