Racing: Sky's The Limit looks unlikely to head to the Cheltenham Festival despite a second Grade One victory this season in the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
The Edward O'Grady-trained grey faced only three rivals, but was dropping back down from two and a half miles and taking on specialists over the minimum trip.
However, his task was made much easier by the fall of his major market rival, Perce Rock, three from home.
Despite looking to have matters under control at that stage, Andrew McNamara was forced to pull out all the stops on the 5-4 favourite after the last to beat Lenrey by a head.
But even though the six-year-old already has a win at Prestbury Park to his name in the Coral Cup over timber, O'Grady appears in no rush to send him back there.
"He did that well for a horse who wants further and I thought it was a brave performance," said O'Grady. "We will probably come back here for Dr PJ Moriarty over two miles and five furlongs (February 10th).
"I think he confirmed what we thought — that two miles is too short for him but I don't want to go to three miles just yet. So the PJ Moriarty and Powers Gold Cup (March 23rd at Fairyhouse) looks a reasonable programme."
When asked if that meant the Cheltenham Festival and the Ryanair Chase was out of the equation, O'Grady replied: "He can go for Ryanair at anytime."
O'Grady and McNamara were also on the mark with Tranquil Sea (3-1) in the Durkan New Homes Maiden Hurdle and Shazand in the Durkan New Homes Handicap Hurdle.
In the other Grade One event, Sabrina Harty's Won In The Dark proved his performance last time at Cheltenham was no fluke when winning the Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle impressively.
The Montjeu gelding chased home Franchoek at a big price but was still sent off at 8-1 for this event, probably because of his unfashionable trainer.
Ridden confidently by Martin Mooney, he kicked clear turning into the straight to beat Indian Spring by three lengths.
Noel Meade's The Ethiopian, formerly with Aidan O'Brien and a full-brother to High Chaparral, ran on pleasingly for third on his first outing over hurdles.
The winner was handed a 25-1 quote by William Hill for the Cheltenham event with the third home introduced at 33-1.
Harty said: "He's a bit of a bargain, he only went for €1,800 at the sales having cost €65,000 as a yearling He might be small but he has a big heart, which is the most important thing.
"I feel for Shane Hassett (regular rider), he had to go to Limerick and we couldn't get a jockey despite the fact we knew we had the best form in the race But Martin came in and did everything we told him to do.
"He is totally genuine and consistent and maybe now they might give him a quote for the Triumph. He might have one more run before then."