Rosaker booked his ticket for the bonusprint.com Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month after a facile victory at Navan today but trainer Noel Meade is under no illusions about his task. The Meath handler expressed the view that Baracouda looks a "certainty" to retain his crown in the Festival race.
Meade was speaking after watching his charge make light work of three opponents in the featured McCabe Builders Ltd Boyne Hurdle. The 1-5 shot fully justified his odds in the Grade Two event under Paul Carberry, who never had to ask his mount the slightest question before disposing of Prince Of Tara by four lengths.
Cashmans left Rosaker unchanged at 40-1 for the big race on March 18th, and Meade commented: "If he doesn't run he can't win, and he might as well go there as there are not a lot of options for him in any case."
Fresh from a double at Newbury yesterday, Ruby Walsh was back on home soil and teamed up with his father Ted to win the other Grade Two event, the two-mile betfair.com Flyingbolt Novice Chase, with True Blue Victory.
Quickening well on the run-in, the 7-2 shot outpaced favourite Jim to score by two and a half lengths, prompting Walsh snr to say: "The favourite was vulnerable over the trip and the blinkers have helped my fellow."
Eamonn Sheehy was another man to make the headlines on Saturday, with Rathgar Beau triumphing at Gowran, and Satco Express gave him further cause for celebration by taking the three-mile Bar-One Racing Ten Up Novice Chase.
The 9-4 market leader looked to have forfeited his chance when blundering four out, but showed great staying power under Shay Barry and flew home to win the Grade Three contest by a length from Lord Who.
Sheehy said: "He scoped rotten after the Thyestes Chase, but I knew he was back in form and while it is still a long way off, the Irish National is the plan."