Leopardstown report: Hardy Eustace's owner Lar Byrne secured another Grade One victory when Schindlers Hunt landed the Baileys Arkle Cup at Leopardstown yesterday and, not surprisingly, Byrne was determined to enjoy the moment to the full.

Schindlers Hunt races in the colours of the Slaneyville Syndicate which is made up of Byrne and eight of his siblings but a St Stephen's Day success at the Co Dublin course last month had a frightening aftermath for the syndicate head.

Byrne started to feel unwell afterwards and had to be rushed from the course by ambulance with a suspected brain haemorrhage.

However, the Tullow-based owner was back in fine fettle yesterday to enjoy the sort of top-class success that is more normally the preserve of Sheikhs and billionaire magnates.

"I was in medical trouble for a few weeks but I feel fine again now," he grinned. "This is a great day. The last day was good too - until it got interrupted!"

The good thing about Schindlers Hunt is the good days don't look like ending either, although a clerical error which resulted in his name not appearing among the Cheltenham Arkle entries appears to have ruled out a trip to the festival alongside Hardy Eustace.

"He is in the SunAlliance but it will probably be the Powers Gold Cup for him, and then on to Punchestown," said trainer Dessie Hughes who was also securing a memorable Grade One double.

There was an authority to the way Schindlers Hunt beat King Johns Castle yesterday that indicates the festival will be the poorer without him and the best may be yet to come.

"He has definitely improved since the last day," Hughes added. "He got to the second last running away and he was only idling in front."

Eoin Griffin was thrilled with the AIG effort of Lounaos and there was further joy for the Co Kilkenny trainer when Kazal maintained his own progressive form with a gutsy defeat of Aitmatov in the Grade Three novice hurdle.

Barry Geraghty forced the dour stayer home by a head and Kazal survived a subsequent stewards inquiry after drifting to the right close to home.

"He's an amazing horse who takes everything in his stride. His jumping still leaves something to be desired at times but he treats hurdles with disdain.

"He's going to be exciting over fences next season but if the ground came up soft at Cheltenham he will run in the Brit Insurances Hurdle," Griffin said.

Niall "Slippers" Madden was out of luck on Aitmatov and also lost out by a head in the handicap chase where In The High Grass was overhauled in the dying strides by Carrigeen Kalmia.

The winner's 23-year-old jockey, Liz Lalor, was maintaining her 100 per cent Leopardstown record with a second winner and won despite carrying a pound overweight.

Madden, however, picked up a one-day ban for using his whip excessively.

Willie Mullins secured a first and last race double although the opening maiden hurdle was secured by the 20 to 1 outsider Scotsirish who overcame interference from his stable companion Cobham on the turn in to win by three and a half lengths.

It earned Davy Condon's mount some 25 to 1 quotes for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle but Mullins didn't appear overly keen on a trip to Cheltenham for the festival.

"He ran a good race at Cork and as he was a point to point horse I told Davy to have him up with the pace," the trainer said.

"I'm not sure about Cheltenham, although better ground would suit him."

Arbor Supreme did, however, look to earn a Cheltenham ticket with an eight-length winning debut in the bumper which was a first racecourse success for Mullins's 16-year-old nephew Emmett.

Mullins has won the Festival Bumper five times already and currently rates Arbor Supreme and last week's Fairyhouse runner-up Mad Fish as his best chances for a sixth.

"I hope one or two more might come through," he said before praising his nephew's skill.

"This horse is a very difficult ride and I was worried beforehand if Emmett would be able for the job. But he's given him a fantastic ride. The horse looks up to going across the water."

That was enough for some firms to make Arbor Supreme a 10 to 1 shot for the festival.

Yesterday's Leopardstown crowd of 10,592 was down almost 200 on last year's AIG day and the betting figures were also slightly less.

A total bookmaker turnover of €2,299,459 was down almost €50,000, while the Tote figure of €414,029 was down over €30,000.