Racing:Dunguib (3-10 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record over timber in effortless style when winning the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon. Philip Fenton's pride and joy landed last season's Cheltenham bumper by a wide margin and looks like being every inch as good over timber.
Having had two easy tasks to date, his rivals in this Grade One contest were supposed to throw down a much sterner challenge. But he never looked in any danger whatsoever as Brian O'Connell steered the six-year-old to a seven-length success over Some Present.
Fenton said: "I suppose you'd have to say you were very impressed. He seemed to be in control a long way out and you'd have to be impressed with his jumping - he was excellent.
"The gallop was nice and he travelled well, apart from the one mistake. His jumping is getting better and better and he was excellent over the last two.
"I'll have to chat with the owners because we had it in our minds that we'd bypass Leopardstown at Christmas because he is not an over-robust horse and doesn't take a huge amount of racing - we don't want to take one step too many. Leopardstown in February (Deloitte Novice Hurdle) could be the next step.
"I'll think we'll stick to the novices this year. There is always next season if he looked the job in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and we can train him for the Champion the following season. It depends how well he is each day he turns up, but he looks exceptional at the moment."
Davy Russell was seen to great effect on Oscar Dan Dan (11-2) when getting the better of Tony McCoy and Ninetieth Minute in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle.
McCoy kicked for home half a mile out, having taken up the running from the veteran Hardy Eustace.
For a while it looked as if he had most of his rivals in trouble, but Catch Me (11-10 favourite) and Andrew McNamara cruised up on the bridle.
However Edward O'Grady's favourite found disappointingly little and it was left to Oscar Dan Dan and outsider Healys Bar to throw down the challenge.
McCoy still looked to have the race in the bag approaching the last, but a messy leap allowed the challengers to come again.
Oscar Dan Dan found plenty for pressure to win by a neck.
William Hill make Oscar Dan Dan 20-1 for the World Hurdle, with Mullins now ready to step his charge back up in trip to three miles.
"He had a good bumper year and had a great win first time over hurdles in Punchestown," said the trainer.
"But the wheels then fell off from October until April when he came back here and won a good Grade Two.
"He's come back a different horse this year as he's grown up and got stronger and I'm delighted he's won as he won't have to go chasing yet.
"He was unlucky the last day when he fell at the second-last and I was very hopeful today.
"We'll look at the big staying races for him and although Big Buck's won't be shivering in his boots, maybe he'll be able to hold his own."
Noel Meade and Davy Condon again teamed up to good effect as Pandorama stretched away from his rivals to land the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.
It was a second Grade One triumph in a week for the pair, who struck gold with Go Native in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.
Pandorama travelled ominously well throughout the two-and-a-half-mile contest and went in pursuit of Alpha Ridge at the top of the straight. Noel Meade's well-backed 9-4 favourite soon struck the front and although he jumped out to his left at the last couple of obstacles, he passed the post seven lengths ahead.
Pandorama's stablemate, Jered, did not jump as fluently as the winner but plugged on late in the day to finish third.
Sizing America answered Andrew Lynch's every call to come out on top in a thrilling finish to the Caffrey's of Batterstown Handicap Chase.
The high-class card had to be cancelled on Sunday due to a waterlogged track, but officials acted quickly to move the entire meeting.
Sizing America was sent off at 7-1 for this competitive handicap and although Lynch was hard at work before jumping the final obstacle, Henry de Bromhead's charge gradually reeled in the mare Frontier Lady to score by a neck.
The eight-year-old was the subject of a major gamble, having been as big as 16-1 in the morning and his trainer said: "God he was backed, wasn't he? He was great under a great ride again. He is riding out of his skin, Andrew.
"He was running well in beginners' chases last year, just failing to win one. He was beaten a head here before having a couple of bad runs at the end of the season. He then got dropped to 112, which looked a good mark. He had a wind operation in the summer. He is a grand horse and I think he'll get further. He deserved to win one."
Fairyhouse Results
12.15 Caffrey's of Batterstown Handicap
1st Sizing America 7-1
2nd 10 Frontier Lady 7-1
3rd 5 Dooneys Gate 11-2
12.45 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle
1st Dunguib 3-10 F
2nd Some Present 6-1
1.20 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase
1st Pandorama 9-4 F
2nd Alpha Ridge 4-1
3rd Jered 6-1
1.50 Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle
1st Oscar Dan Dan 11-2
2nd Ninetieth Minute 10-3
2.20 John Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase
1st Cara Mara 20-1
2nd Shuil Aris 4-1
3rd Inistioge 13-2
2.55 Joe Savage Handicap Hurdle
1st Lochan Lacha 6-4 F
2nd Rebel Chief 10-1
3rd Leading Diamonds 11-1
3.25 O'Doherty's Audio & Video Flat Race
1st Al Ferof 4-1
2nd Shuil Dearg 6-1
3rd Prince Of Milan 10-1