Racing:Trainer Oliver McKiernan landed the biggest win of his career as Follow The Plan floored odds-on favourite Tatenen in the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase in front of 16,744 punters on the first day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Paul Nicholls' English raider was as low as 5-2 with some bookmakers for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March.
As he is still a four-year-old, Tatenen was expected to blow away his rivals in receipt of 11lb.
Sam Thomas came over to ride Andy Stewart's French import and everything appeared to be going to plan in the early stages as the 4-6 favourite jumped well just behind Pesoto.
Made In Taipan was first to make a move coming out of the back straight, with Tatenen and Follow The Plan keeping close tabs on him.
When Made In Taipan could not go on at the second-last, Thomas asked his mount to go and win his race.
However, Follow The Plan proved a determined character and John Cullen just managed to get the best of Thomas and score by a short head.
The win for McKiernan topped the victory of Whatuthink in a Grade Two event at this meeting 12 months ago
He said: "The way he worked earlier in the week, I was in two minds whether to run him or not.
"The fact that the ground changed a little helped us get the result.
"He didn't jump well the last day out of really holding ground so when it dried up, it helped him."
The winner was introduced into the Arkle betting at 12-1 by William Hill, who eased Tatenen to 5-1 from 3s.
The Grade One Durkan New Home Homes Juvenile Hurdle might well have thrown up a very smart winner as Lethal Weaponextended his unbeaten run to three.
Gordon Elliott's Tharawaat was sent off the 5-4 favourite and his intentions were clear from flag-fall as he bowled along at the head of affairs.
He was still there after the long run to the second-last but Alan Crowe on the 7-4 second favourite was travelling just as well in his slipstream.
And so it proved as he got away from the last well and came home a length to the good, not looking at all hard pressed in the process.
William Hill reacted with a 12-1 from 16-1 quote for Christy Roche's charge for the Triumph Hurdle.
Roche thinks his charge needs to progress further before he can be considered for a race as tough as the Triumph Hurdle.
"Hurdles has made a man of him," said Roche. "He wouldn't be certain to go for the Triumph at Cheltenham, though.
"He would need to improve a bit first before I would consider that."
Cousin Vinny(4-9 favourite) opened his account over timber at the second time of asking in the opening Durkan New Homes Maiden Hurdle.
The only horse to win the Champion Bumper at both Cheltenham and Aintree ran a blinder on his hurdling debut to finish third behind Hurricane Fly and Donnas Palm in the Royal Bond.
There was nothing of their calibre in the opposition this time and Willie Mullins' five-year-old oozed class in an eight length win, ridden by his son Patrick.
The winning trainer said: "This was a big-pressure ride for Patrick and he handled it very well.
"The horse jumped fantastically. He fiddled the last, which was great because he will have to learned how to do that for the future.
"I still have an open mind regarding my top horses but Cousin Vinny will definitely now step back up in grade."
Mullins had a double as Irish Invader(7-2) won the paddypower.com Handicap Chase in the hands of Paul Townend.