The Sun Alliance Chase prospect Boss Doyle maintained his unbeaten record over fences at Gowran Park yesterday, but those who made him a 4 to 7 favourite to beat his only worthwhile opponent, Penndara, were made to sweat before he did. As expected, Penndara made the running in the two-and-a-quarter mile contest and Boss Doyle kept close tabs on him. Despite a mistake down the back straight, things panned out comfortably for Boss Doyle as he led into the straight - but suddenly Conor O'Dwyer wasn't quite as motionless in the saddle as he had been.

O'Dwyer gave the favourite a smack after the third last as Penndara ranged back alongside, and O'Dwyer had to give Boss Doyle a couple more before the last until his mount's undoubted stamina came into play and O'Dwyer could afford to take it easy on the run in.

"He learned more today than he did in his previous two races, especially over that trip," said trainer "Mouse" Morris. "When Penndara stood off from one down the back, our fellah did the same, but he'll learn from that. He'll have another run next month before we decide where he goes at Christmas."

In contrast, the backers who made Oonagh's Star a 4 to 6 favourite on his jumping debut in the INH Hurdle never had an anxious moment. Tommy Treacy put him straight into the lead, and the nearest that As Royal got at any stage was about eight lengths. That effort cost As Royal second place to Clash Of The Gales, but by then Oonagh's Star was already cooling down.

After a series of placed efforts, Balla Sola's talent is starting to flower and he followed up his success at Galway on Sunday with a sauntering victory from Challenger Two in the Kilkenny Race.

"The wins seem to have given him confidence and he ran straighter today. We thought Galway was going to be his last run of the season, but we were so close to home today and, now he seems to be improving, we'll go for the Eyrefield Race on the last day of the season," said Willie Mullins.

Willie Mullins also won the bumper with Mill Lane Lady, but claimer Paul Moloney had a horrific fall early in the straight from Vicci Van Dame, with Sunapan and Doc Morrisey brought down in the subsequent melee. Moloney was taken to hospital in Kilkenny with a suspected broken leg.

Martha's Son, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, looks set to have his first outing of this jumps season in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on November 25th. A lack of rain has delayed the geldings return.