Moscow Flyer underlined his Cheltenham Arkle Chase credentials next March with a power-packed victory under Barry Geraghty in the featured Denny Gold Medal Chase.
Sent off the warm 5/4 fav, Jessica Harrington's gelding jumped well throughout and, despite getting in a bit close at the penultimate fence, still held the call from the chasing Just Our Job and Colonel Yeager.
He stayed on gallantly helped by another good leap at the last to comfortably hold Youlneverwalkalone and Colonel Yeager, who reportedly broke down early in the straight, with Just Our Job, who blundered at the last 4th.
'I'm exhausted after that,' said trainer Jessica Harrington, who added, ' he stayed and jumped well and seemed to do it very easily. The plan was always to come back here for the Baileys Arkle before heading to Cheltenham.'
Newhall provided Grangecon trainer Francis Flood and his son and namesake with another family success at Leopardstown this afternoon when the 4/1 shot won the Denny Juvenile Hurdle.
The daughter of Shermazar, the only filly in the field, was always travelling well behind the leading group and after a good jump at the penultimate flight swept to the front to defeat Moore's Law by four lengths.
'She seems to be improving and I was surprised the way she stayed when she pulled away again from the last,' said Flood senior whose charge is a best price 33/1with Cashmans for the Triumph Hurdle next March.
With likely favourite Hyderabad (stone bruise) a non-runner, Noel Meade's unbeaten hurdler Pasteur was sent off the 3/1 market leader but he was struggling before the third last and finished 7th.
The Flood father and son team followed up in the next when The Culdee (8/1-10/1-9/1) made virtually all to score at the expense of Cronin's Boy.
British import Thari, formerly trained by Ben Hanbury,made a winning debut over timber for Navan handler Noel Meade when battling on gamely after the last to hold Petersham by a neck in the hands of Paul Carberry.
' He's a nice tough horse and jumped brilliantly bar the last and that might have been a good race. We'll find a winners race next,' said Meade of the #60,000 Newmarket purchase.
The Meade/Carberry alliance found the winners enclosure again after the penultimate chase when Woodenbridge Natif (5/2-2/1f) stayed on in the straight to hold Be Home Early.
Georgies Best, a bargain buy at just #6,000, won the opener for permit holder George McMahon despite idling in the final 100 yards to initiate a double for big race winning rider Barry Geraghty.
Curragh-based Pat O'Leary, who has decided to relinquish his trainers licence, saddled Rugged Jacket (12/1) to win the finale with well touted Sound As A Bell (1/1-4/5f) a well beaten third.
