Fairyhouse report: The recent absence of the two mile king Moscow Flyer has resulted in a window of opportunity for his rivals and Central House continued to fill it in some style with victory at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Moscow Flyer's late-scratching from the Dial-a-Bet Chase resulted in a Grade One Christmas triumph for Central House at Leopardstown when getting the better of Native Scout.

The pair met again in yesterday's Keogh Car Sales Normans Grove Chase and the Grade Two pot also ended up going to the Dessie Hughes-trained horse. However, it was a victory tinged with considerable sadness as a fall at the second last claimed Native Scout's life.

Central House could now end up in the way of Moscow Flyer's return in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown later in the month but as regards Cheltenham he remains a 16 to 1 shot for the new two and a half mile championship, the Daily Telegraph Chase.

"That could be the race for him as he will have no trouble with two and a half he definitely wants better ground," said Hughes afterwards.

Native Scout was disputing the lead with Central House when crashing out and breaking a shoulder.

"We knocked some great sport out of him and he was a good old servant," said trainer Donie Hassett. "He broke a shoulder but it would have been far worse if Ruby (Walsh) broke something." Native Scout won last year's Tied Cottage Chase and the Grade Three was his biggest triumph in ten racecourse successes. He was also runner-up in the 2002 Pierse Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh got kicked on the hip by the eventual runner-up Colnel Rayburn but that didn't stop the season's leading jockey scoring a double on the Pat Fahy -trained pair, Washington Lad and Bluestone Lad.

Washington Lad received a 25 to 1 SunAlliance Hurdle quote from Cashmans after proving two lengths too good for Kill Devil Hill in the maiden hurdle.

"There's an ideal race for him at Leopardstown on Sunday but that wouldn't be fair to the horse. I want to give him at least a fortnight," said Fahy who was singing Walsh's praises after Bluestone Lad's narrow defeat of Danse Macabre in the handicap hurdle.

"Did you ever see Ruby as strong?" he asked. "He had a fair bit to do with that. I had the horse ready at Christmas but he got a dirty nose and I eased off. I put him in every race this weekend and we decided to come here because he loves Fairyhouse and we could get Ruby." Walsh was on the favourite Our Ben in the novice hurdle but that one couldn't land a blow and finished a distant third behind Sweet Kiln.

The winner and Carraig Blue engaged in a prolonged battle and at the last Sweet Kiln looked to be in serious trouble. But yet again a James Bowe runner fought to the line and eventually won by a length.

"She wants further and softer!" said Michael Bowe who could aim Sweet Kiln at the Deloitte Hurdle on February 6th. "She takes her racing well and like a lot of ours she loves that ground." Carraig Blue's rider Michael Darcy got a one-day whip ban from the stewards afterwards.

The Bowe's were back in the winners enclosure when You Sir took up the running at half way in the bumper and was never headed afterwards.

It was a first winner for Alan Cash, brother of Brave Inca's rider, Barry, and a success that didn't surprise the Bowe's.

"We've always thought a lot of him but he does need soft ground. He's a real three mile chaser in the making and has already jumped hurdles," said You Sir's owner James Bowe.

"He is out of a full sister to Limestone Lad and did a great bit of work with Sweet Kiln a few weeks ago."