Ruby Walsh soon put the disappointment of Our Ben's last fence fall in the feature behind him when reeling off a quick treble at Thurles yesterday.
Our Ben (4 to 7 favourite) looked sure to collect in the Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase but crashed out with the Listed race at his mercy. The 14 to 1 shot Carrigeen Kalmia, and Liz Lalor, did well to step around the faller and stayed on to score by three-and-a-half lengths from Public Reaction.
"It's a very nice surprise," admitted winning trainer Dick Lalor. "I haven't really got a plan but we'll look at the Leopardstown Handicap Chase (January 14th)."
Walsh wasted no time in gaining compensation as Financial Reward (9 to 10 favourite) proved an easy winner of the following Heineken WT O'Grady Memorial Hurdle.
Willie Mullins' charge leapt into the lead at the penultimate flight and soon eased away from Celtic Warrior for an eight-length verdict. "He did it nicely," said Mullins. "We'll try and find another winners race for him. He seems to handle that ground well.
"He'll certainly get an entry for the Triumph Hurdle but on the run the other day Lounaos would be hard to beat. I think he'll be better on better ground, though."
Wickford (8 to 11 favourite) had to work harder for his victory in the novice hurdle.
The Colm Murphy-trained front-runner looked under pressure some way out but kept up to his task well and asserted from the last to score by seven lengths from Tex Morgan.
"We'll stick him into a graded race and see if we can get some black-type for him," said Murphy.
"He has improved with every run this year and I think there is still improvement in him. He's like a mare in foal - we can't get the belly off him!"
Walsh completed his haul when teaming up with Mullins again to score with Nay (13 to 8 favourite) in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.
The French-bred was soon in front and stretched clear in the straight to score by eight lengths from In Debted Friend's. "He just disappointed last season and had a wind operation, which seems to have worked," revealed Mullins.
"He seems to be back to the horse we thought he was when he won his bumper at Punchestown. He'll go for a winners race. He's more of a chaser and I'm looking forward to him going over fences next year."
Deskelly Interiors' victory in the opening handicap chase proved the first leg of Anglo-Irish double for trainer Adrian McGuinness, who saddled Miracle Ridge to win at Wolverhampton almost an hour later.
The 25 to 1 shot Arkmore Radar stayed on well to regain his lead, and survived a mistake, at the last to claim the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
