Native Upmanship crowned a memorable weekend for his owner Mrs. John Magnier when just getting the better of a tremendous tussle with Florida Pearl for the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.
After Micko's Dream had set a sedate pace until weakening before the home turn, the race as expected developed into a set-to between the market principals.
Florida Pearl had the call over the last, but the long run-in gave Arthur Moore's charge sufficient time to reel him in close home and earn himself a general quote of 14/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
'It was a good race, and I was pleased with how he battled,' said Moore, nominating the Ericsson Chase as the next step, with steeplechasing's Blue Riband the long-term objective.
Willie Mullins expressed himself 'delighted' with Florida Pearl and confirmed the gelding on course for the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Moore and jockey Conor O'Dwyer were completing a double following the victory of Ellenjay in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.
The final flight was omitted here after Emmet Stack took a heavy fall from Monty's Fancy on the first circuit, and the grey took advantage to score comfortably.
'We were thinking of sending him chasing, but might put that on hold now,' said Moore afterwards. 'I wasn't sure about today's trip, but now that he has proved he gets it we have more options.'
Fadoudal Du Cochet later gave the pair a treble when collaring the well-backed Miles Byrne in the closing stages of the concluding 2m handicap chase.
Dessie Hughes was on the mark with the consistent French Style in the 2m Novice Hurdle.
The mare looked to have the measure of Royal Plaisir (11/10f) when the latter stumbled after the final flight, and is likely to be seen next in a similar event over the Christmas period.
Gardrum Park stayed on dourly to land the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle after favourite Spirit Glen crashed out at the last when held.
Trainer Francis Flood expects the winner to eventually develop into a useful 3m chaser, particularly granted his favoured soft ground.
The Grangecon handler went on to record a brace himself, with To Your Honour (4/7f) defeating the flattering Space Trucker in the 2m chase, despite several ponderous leaps along the way.
'Ideally, he wants 3m on a galloping track,' said Flood, attributing the gelding's lethargic early jumping to a lack of company.
Section Seven seems to have found a new lease of life since joining Austin Leahy, and the ten year-old made it back-to-back wins when justifying favouritism in the Conyngham Cup.
A fine leap at the final fence put the issue firmly beyong doubt, and David Russell could afford to take things easy in the closing stages as the pair came home seven lengths to the good.
