Den the main man at Leopardstown

Denman led all the way to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in the style of a top-class performer.

Ruby Walsh set only a steady pace on the 4-9 favourite, closely tracked by last year’s winner The Listener, but quickened the tempo with half a mile to run.

Denman soon asserted and was not pressed in accounting for Mossbank by four lengths, with The Listener third.

Walsh was content to make the running on the Paul Nicholls-trained Hennessy winner, while Daryl Jacob employed slightly different tactics this time on The Listener.

Mossbank, who travelled well throughout, loomed up large on the final bend to lay down a challenge but Davy Russell’s mount had no answer to Denman’s striking turn of foot going to the last.

The Listener ran like he would be better suited to stepping back down in trip, while L’Antartique and State Of Play were never competitive.

Three-time race winner Beef Or Salmon stayed on after the last and was far from disgraced.

Denman was left unchanged at 2-1 with VC Bet for the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Mossbank was cut to 33-1 from 50s. The Listener was pushed out to 50-1 from 33s.

Stan James opted to cut the winner to 7-4 from 2-1.