Racing: Iktitaf ran out the gutsy winner of a high-class renewal of the Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.
Noel Meade's five-year-old was held up in last place for much of the Grade One event before Paul Carberry asked him to take closer order with three hurdles to jump.
The 5-4 favourite cruised into a challenging position soon after and led before the last but had to dig deep to repel the rallying Asian Maze (7-2).
Meade said: "You'd have to be thrilled with that. For a horrible moment I thought Asian Maze was coming back at us but our fellow knuckled down well.
"Paul said he jumped fantastic. I don't know where we will go next - I had intended to go for the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse, but that's probably off the agenda now.
"It's more likely he'll go for the December Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. He has run three times in the last six weeks and had a hard race there against two fair ones so I might just give him a little break."
Earlier, Blueberry Boy sprung something of a surprise when shrugging off a 250-day absence to land the Volkswagen Craddockstown Novice Chase. Andrew Lynch was content to settle the seven-year-old in second place for much of the Grade Two contest, some way behind the pace-setting Gemini Lucy.
He asked the 16-1 chance to take closer order with four fences left to jump and was clearly going best when nudging into the lead approaching the final two obstacles.
Paul Stafford's charge responded to his rider's urgings from that point on and saw his race out in game style to hold the rallying Gemini Lucy (100-30) by two and a half lengths.
Sky's The Limit, winner of the 2005 Coral Cup at Cheltenham, was none too fluent at some of his fences but plugged on to claim third under Barry Geraghty.
Conna Castle was sent off the 11-8 favourite but was well held in third when taking a crashing fall at the penultimate fence.
Stafford said of his winner: "I couldn't be happier and he did it very well. He's schooled very well beforehand and only made one mistake but Andrew said that was more his fault. He had a setback about six weeks to a month ago but we're aiming towards the Drinmore (December 3) now.
"He runs best when fresh and he doesn't travel well so I don't think he'll go to Cheltenham."