Pedrobob toys with his rivals
The programme then consisted of four contests over hurdles and a bumper, with racing put back by an hour.
Tony Mullins' Pedrobob toyed with his rivals in the Bewleys' Hotel Leeds Hurdle in the hands of Ruby Walsh, successful of course later in the day aboard Brave Inca.
He went straight into the lead, jumped like a buck and had this in safe keeping off the home turn, stretching away to beat Son Of Oscar by nine lengths.
“I thought he ran a brilliant race under top weight in his first handicap at Cheltenham last time”, said Mullins.
“I felt he was an unbelievable price and so I backed him. He's a very good horse, certainly the best I have.
“Ruby thinks he will jump a fence and that's what I'm looking forward to with him.
“He might even go that route this season.”
Philip Fenton's ex-pointer Arrive Sir Clive looks a possible star of the future, putting up a fine display of staying power to win the Bewleys' Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle.
This two and a half miles took a lot of getting, but Fenton's charge galloped powerfully to score by nine lengths.
He eased past front-running Judge Deed early in the straight and Barry Geraghty kept him right up to his work.
“He's a lovely horse”, said a delighted Fenton. “He ran into a very good one (De Valira) at Fairyhouse the last day.
“He has a good action and is likely to be more suited by better ground. He might run again in the next fortnight and then have a break.
“We will pitch him a bit higher next time and then see where we are going.”
Grangeclare Lark won her fourth race in-a-row, giving Dessie Hughes his fourth of the Festival, with a game display in the Bewleys' Hotel Dublin Airport EBF Mares Hurdle.
She eventually beat favourite Blazing Sky by an easy five and a half lengths, but the runner-up was a trifle unlucky.
Paddy Flood's mount was in front, and apparently full of running, going to the second last when getting it all wrong.
Roger Loughran seized his chance and drove the winner past shortly before the final flight.
“I was a bit afraid of the ground”, reported Hughes. “She only won a short head at Cork last time and we were blaming the ground.
“She could go to Punchestown next, although I didn't really look beyond today.”
Noel Glynn's Ophorique swept right away from Noel Meade's hot-pot Gary Brady to easily land the Bumper.
Glynn sees his charge as a future chaser and only ran him in this contest because he had been balloted out of three beginners chases of late.
