Turban landed another valuable pot for the Willie Mullins team with a decisive success in the Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.
Ruby Walsh brought the 11/2 shot with a powerful bid to lead after two out, sealing victory with a big leap at the final fence.
Competitive Edge tried hard but was well held as Turban got home six lengths clear, with Lastoftheleaders third.
“He ran a nice race (over hurdles when second) in Cork and this is a nice race to win,” said Mullins. “He loves that ground and he’s a hell of a jumper.
"I'd imagine that was his Gold Cup. If he keeps improving we'll look at a graded race."
Completing a double
Mullins was completing a double having earlier struck with Gitane Du Berlais, who outpointed stablemate Vicky De L'Oasis in the Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle.
Paul Townend led a long way out on the lightly-weighted four-year-old and the evens favourite kept up the gallop to comfortably beat Walsh's mount by five lengths.
“It was a good performance and they are two good mares. The winner loves the ground and the trip and the way she jumped the last few she had plenty in the tank,” said Mullins.
Gitane Du Berlias received Triumph Hurdle quotes, but Mullins warned: "This is her ground and we are probably looking at taking her to France rather than Cheltenham. It will probably be too quick for her in Cheltenham."
Took advantage
Waxies Dargle (11/1) took advantage of a slip by Daneking to land the Fairyhouse Schooling Races Maiden Hurdle.
The two jumped the last together but Daneking stumbled, losing valuable ground which let Tony McCoy on Noel Meade’s runner, owned by JP McManus, to go on and score by a length and three-quarters.
“I knew he was in good form coming here today,” said Meade.
“He’s tough and he likes that ground. His jumping was a bit sketchy on his first few runs but he seems to be getting the hang of it now.”
Tidy Zag (8/1) took his winning run to three with a clear-cut victory in the Fairyhouse For Fundraisers Handicap Hurdle.
Won eased-down
Successful at Cork and Tramore on his last two starts, Ray Hackett's nine-year-old has gone up a total of 15lb in the ratings but it made no difference as he won by an eased-down length and three-quarters from Might Be Magic.
“The horse is very healthy in himself and we’ve been a long time waiting for that to come about. We’re able to kick on with him now and it makes a big difference,” said Hackett.
“He’s has improved from Tramore and we’ll see how he comes out of this now. We’ll let him dictate when to go again but we’ll probably look at something in four to six weeks’ time.”
A change of tactics worked as Davy Russell made all the running on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Grand Jesture (5/4 favourite) in the Follow Fairyhouse On Facebook Beginners Chase.
Settled the issue
A big leap at the last settled the issue and he went on to win by six and a half lengths over Hit The Headlines.
Hold Em Cowboy (9/4 favourite) got a trademark Paul Carberry ride to land the Ward Union Hunt Gathering Handicap Chase.
Gordon Elliott’s charge was held up in the rear but crept into the race and eventually recorded a four-and-three-quarter-length win.
