RACING:Cooldine already has connections dreaming of next year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham after notching up a five-timer at Fairyhouse.
Willie Mullins' six-year-old, who runs in the colours of Violet O'Leary made famous by Florida Pearl, had to show all his battling qualities to hold off Chasing Cars after the last.
Jessica Harrington's runner-up had attempted to make all but when Ruby Walsh swept past at the second-last flight, the race appeared to be over.
But Cooldine, the 6-4 favourite, began to get lonely out in front and idled, allowing Chasing Cars one last crack.
Walsh galvanised his mount, however, and he picked up again to win the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Festival Novices Hurdle by three-quarters of a length.
"He must be a fair machine," said Mullins. "He had a hard race at Thurles and my fear was that I was bringing him back too quickly.
"Ruby felt he would be all right taking on the older horses and he was right. We'll now head to Punchestown.
"He's got a real engine and I'm looking forward to sending him over fences next season."
Cashmans installed the winner as 12-1 favourite for the SunAlliance Chase at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival. William Hill go 14-1.
Walsh was also on the mark in the Navan Town Centre Maiden Hurdle on Jimmy Ber (4-1) for Dessie Hughes.
The Grade One Powers Gold Cup was the feature race on the card and it was disappointing that only four went to post.
But they included dual Grade One winner Sky's The Limit and Colm Murphy's Big Zeb, a gallant runner-up behind J'y Vole in the Dr P.J. Moriarty Chase last time out.
However, both were overshadowed by Jimmy Mangan's Conna Castle, who provided a real boost to the Irish National chances of Cailin Alainn.
Conna Castle (7-2) had finished third behind Charles Byrnes' mare at Thurles earlier in the month.
It was Big Zeb who attempted to make all under Davy Russell and he looked to have got his fractions spot on when Conna Castle fluffed the last.
But Paul Carberry got stuck into the nine-year-old and he rallied to great effect to win by half a length.
"He'll be entered for Aintree now," said Mangan.
Liam Burke was given a nice boost ahead of Sir Frederick's run in the Irish National when Oscar Rebel won the Masterchefs Hospitality EBF Mares Hurdle.
The 14-1 chance settled down to battle it out with hurdling debutant Shirley Casper over the final two flights, but experience and fitness told in the end.
Carberry did not ask his mount for everything until after the last and sprinted nine lengths clear of Edward O'Grady's new addition, who had finished third in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown for Philip Fenton.
Barry Geraghty will need to pass the doctor in the morning after a nasty incident when he fell from Brave Betsy in the same race.
The jockey needed 40 stitches in three separate facial cuts but the Irish Turf Club's chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick believes he will will fine to ride.