PUNCHESTOWN: Cheltenham Festival goers still remember the scenes when Oliver Brady saddled Baron De Feypo to finish third in the Coral Cup two years ago and he is already promising something extra special if Ebadiyan lands the Triumph Hurdle.
The former John Oxx inmate has emerged as Ireland's leading hope for the four-year-old championship following a facile success in the Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle.
Saved over from Saturday after the card was frozen off, the son of Daylami only won at Naas eight days ago but John Cullen always oozed confidence on the 15-8 chance who scooted clear in the straight to win by an eased-down eight lengths.
William Hill were most impressed and go 8-1 from 20s for the JCB-sponsored Cheltenham event, Victor Chandler go 14-1 while Stan James also go 14s from 25s. Paddy Power are 12s from 25s.
The colourful Brady said: "This horse goes to Cheltenham and I think I've finally got my dream to have one as good as him for the Festival. It's taken a long time but I've made it.
"It was a good performance today — he annihilated them.
"I hope to give him one more run before the Triumph. If they get good ground at Cheltenham, it will take a hell of a horse to beat him.
"There will be Monaghan flags and jerseys at Cheltenham as well as a few surprises I won't tell you about yet and if he wins there will be an interruption to the programme."
Colm Murphy's Zaarito landed the odds at 1-3 in the I.N.H Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Third in the Champion Bumper in March, he was just beaten on his hurdling debut but made no mistake this time under Matt O'Connor.
Murphy said: "There was no gallop so Matt did the right thing by going on, he jumped better in front.
"He'll get an entry in the Deloitte on Hennessy day (February 8) and the step up in grade should help him settle more.
"He's a two or two and a half miler but at the minute we'll keep him to two because he's a busy type of horse. There's some sleepless nights ahead."
Perce Rock (2-5 favourite), who suffered some crashing falls over fences last season, won for the second time over timber this campaign in the Go Racing In Kildare Hurdle.
Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to his father Tommy, said: "He is a bit more relaxed this year, he has grown up a bit. We've no plans, he may return to chasing."
The rest of the card was dominated by Dessie Hughes who saddled a 55-1 treble after Schindlers Hunt winning at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Vinatieri (7-1) won the Clairefontaine-Co Kildare Twinning Handicap Hurdle, Rare Bob (evens favourite) finally opened his account at the 14th time of asking in the April Festival Beginners Chase and Errit Lake (5-2 favourite) landed the Punchestown Pavilion (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Rare Bob could be considered slightly unlucky to be still tagged as a maiden beforehand having beaten the top-class Trafford Lad earlier in the season only to lose the race in the stewards' room.
Another clash with Dusty Sheehy's star is now on the agenda.
"That was a good performance, he stays well and jumps well. He'll take his chance in the P.J. Moriarty Chase next," said Hughes. Of Errit Lake, who had his task made slightly easier by the withdrawal of Willie Mullins' Quaquo De Flotte, Hughes added: "He is a nice horse, we got him at the Derby Sale as a three-year-old.
"I've had some of his family, he was a big raw horse for two years but he's filled out now. He showed plenty of pace for a big horse and he battled well. He looks like a chaser and he'll probably go hurdling now."