LEOPARDSTOWN: Big Zeb and Hurricane Fly were the Grade One winners of the day at Leopardstown but it was the latter that really impressed with a dominant performance that confirmed his credentials as a one of the brightest prospects in Willie Mullins's stable.
In the aptly named Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Paul Townend asked for a kick at the last and the even-money favourite obliged with a blistering turn of pace that saw him open the gap to 10 lengths before the post.
Go Native was his closest challenger, but after stumbling over the last fence, Noel Meade's charge, ridden by Slippers Madden, had nothing left and finished a distant second.
"I thought he had come on a fair bit for his Fairyhouse run and his homework has been very, very good," Mullins said afterwards. "I was just hoping for a clear round, and Paul gave him a very cool ride - he was as quiet as a mouse and got a clear run up the inside.
"He is a difficult horse to ride but Paul makes it look easy.
"He looks a serious machine, and I hope he can keep improving and that this isn't the top.
"He has won on two and a half miles on heavy ground and two miles on good so has got it all.
"He will be entered in the Supreme and the Ballymore at Cheltenham. I also have Cousin Vinny, Mikael D'Haguenet and Quiscover Fontaine so will have to sit down and make a plan for them all in the New Year."
Victor Chandler make Hurricane Fly 5-1 second favourite for the Supreme behind 7-2 favourite Cousin Vinny. The same firm also have him at odds of 6-1 market leader (from 8s) for the Ballymore Properties' Novices' Hurdle.
In the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet ChaseBig Zeb held off a late challenge from Watson Lake and Paul Carberry.
At 5/1, there were three more fancied than Matt O'Connor's charge but Natal and Mansony failed to show, while Liam Burke's Thyne Again endeavoured to stay on but faded just before the last.
That left Meade's Watson Lake (8/1) as the only threat but the line came just in time for Colm Murphy's charge to win by half a length.
"We have had a clear run with him and he is a different horse to last year," Murphy said. "We were stop-start with him last season and he had niggly problems, but he has grown up physically.
"I was worried with it being his first run (of the season) but he was as ready as we could get him, although I would like to think he can improve.
"His jumping got him there and he was awesome over his fences — which is what it is all about.
"He's likely to have one more run and then go to Cheltenham, where he will be entered in the Queen Mother and the Ryanair."
There was an incredible finish to the valuable Paddy Power Handicap Chaseas 33-1 chance Wheresben stormed to a noteworthy success for trainer Seamus Fahey and his amateur rider son James.
But not many would have bet against the Sam Thomas-ridden Osako D'Airy being anything other than the winner rounding the home turn.
However, the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old tired dramatically after the last and remarkably finished outside the first five.
Three and a half lengths was the margin of victory for Wheresben over Vic Venturi, with Hoopy third and Notable D'Estruval fourth.
Odds-on favourite Realt Dubh sprouted wings on the run to the line to collar Sorcerer close home in the paddypowertrader.com Maiden Hurdle.
Davy Russell looked to have matters in hand on the Arthur Moore-trained Sorcerer but Carberry never gave up on Meade's 9-10 favourite.
Realt Dubh hit top gear as the leader began to tire and claimed first prize by three-quarters of a length - boosting the form of Willie Mullins' Mikael De Haguenet, to whom the winner had finished second last time out.
Out Voted earned a 25-1 quote for the Triumph Hurdle from Victor Chandler after getting off the mark at the first attempt in the paddypowerbingo.com three-year-old Hurdle.
In a race which saw its fair share of casualties, the Jessica Harrington-trained 16-1 chance avoided the trouble under Mark Bolger.
The grey son of Linamix was travelling powerfully at the final flight and ran on strongly to score by two-and-a-half lengths from 4-1 joint-favourite El Presidente.
Donegal, a smart recruit off the Flat to the Robbie Hennessy yard, never threatened.