Racing: Justified put in a brave front-running performance to take the Grade One Powers Gold Cup for Eamonn Sheehy and Tony McCoy.
He jumped left throughout the two-and-a-half mile race but still managed to hold off the 7-4 favourite In Compliance who failed to reel in the long-time leader after travelling well throughout.
The race lost something of its sparkle with the withdrawal of Nickname and the early falls of both Wild Passion and Missed That.
The Railway Man stayed on well for third without threatening the front two.
It was a first attempt at the trip for the 5-1 winner who had been forced to miss the Arkle at Cheltenham after scoping poorly in the lead up to the race.
McCoy gave the seven-year-old a typically positive ride and despite jumping left at every fence, he never made a serious blunder.
"The yard has been going through a lean spell and one thing and another has gone wrong," said Sheehy. "That's my first winner since he (Justified) won at Newbury on January 11th.
"It's his first time over the trip but I never felt it would be a problem. We don't have an explanation as to why he jumped left though.
"He's in the Kerrygold Champion Chase and the Swordlestown Cup Novice at Punchestown and I suppose he'll go for the novice race but I wouldn't rule out the Kerrygold either, he likes the track.
"Tony said he had plenty of horse left at the finish."