Racing: Venalmar earned a 33-1 quote for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after a battling performance at Naas.
However, it was runner-up Trafford Lad who emerged with most credit as he shouldered a 7lb penalty when only beaten a head in the Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Novice Hurdle.
The Grade One winner stayed on stoutly in the closing stages but the Mouse Morris-trained Venalmar proved remarkably game, giving his all for Paddy Flood to just hold on at the line.
Connections of the winner had to endure a nervous wait though, as the stewards called an inquiry after the 5-2 chance appeared to drift markedly left at the final flight.
The stewards soon confirmed the result, however, leaving Morris a very happy man.
"He's a nice type, he has the makings of a nice horse," said the handler. "He's a big baby yet. He's a horse for next year really but we might chance it (Cheltenham) this year."
Willie Mullins' Our Bob also sparked some Festival interest as he ran out a convincing four-and-a-half-length winner of the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle.
Mullins won the race last year with the smart Black Harry and Our Bob (100-30) made his previous experience over hurdles tell.
Representing the same connections as the ill-fated Our Ben, the six-year-old grey bounded clear after the last in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
Dermot Weld's Bellamy Cay was sent off the 7-4 favourite but the former Andre Fabre inmate proved disappointing again, eventually finishing 18th of the 23 runners.
Mullins said of the winner: "He'll stay novice hurdling this season. On that performance he is crying out for fences. In the spring he will enjoy the better ground, I wouldn't say he goes on that (soft) at all."
Our Bob is a 33-1 chance with Cashmans for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle.
Walsh and Mullins doubled up with Temlett in the Panoramic Restaurant At Naas Maiden Hurdle with the former smart flat performer given a 25-1 quote by William Hill for the Triumph Hurdle.
Mullins then capped his day when Prince Geeno (11-8 favourite) claimed the closing Become A Go Racing In Kildare Member INH Flat Race.
Thyne Again, sent off a 6-4 chance, was a one-and-three-quarter-length winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase. Liam Burke's seven-year-old endured a luckless first run over fences but jumped fluently and after joining Albanov at the last, always looked likely to gain the upper-hand for Davy Russell.
Burke said: "It's a fair relief, we've been two years waiting for this. Davy said he'll improve a good bit for that. He was off with leg trouble. He is A1 now but you never know with those kind of things.
"He is in the Irish Arkle (Leopardstown, January 27) which is an option. He wants a trip really, two miles is a bit short. If he stays right he could be top-class next year.
"He definitely won't go to Cheltenham this year as there are enough races in Ireland for him."