The Galway Plate hero Moscow Express will arrive back at Ballybrit in 15 days' time fresh from his expected confidence booster at Killarney last night.
As expected the 1 to 3 favourite beat the second market choice Pas Possible by a couple of lengths in the Muscrai Chase and almost equally predictably he provided at least one minor scare with his jumping.
Ruby Walsh had to sit tight at the last when Moscow Express, runner-up in his previous three races, got low over the obstacle, but even Pas Possible's most enthusiastic fan could ever really believe he was going to get past Moscow Express as a result.
"He's just not a totally natural jumper," trainer Frances Crowley conceded but she added: "He brushes through the top of them but Ruby does his acrobatics and he gets away with it. Ruby will ride him again at Galway which I suppose Moscow Express will go straight for now."
Moscow Express carried 11.4 to a one length defeat of Lucky Town in the Plate last year but the weights for the 2,000 race announced yesterday saw the gelding receive top-weight of 12st. Grimes received 12.4 for the other festival highlight, the Galway Hurdle.
Johnny Murtagh received a rare reverse in the two mile handicap when Akasian, promoted from first reserve and made 13 to 8 favourite as a result, was short headed by the veteran Avoid The Rush.
Akasian looked all over the winner from early in the straight but his 10.3 weight began to tell in the closing stages and Stephen Craine drove the 10-year-old Avoid The Rush for all he was worth.
"He's as old as myself with as many aches and pains too," beamed the winner's trainer Paddy Prendergast who was happy to get his own back on Akasian.
"Akasian has beaten me five times. He was destroying me and I've been telling the handicapper he's been the best bloody handicapped horse in the country for the last couple of years," he said.
Another Curragh trainer, Michael Halford, was also beaming after saddling a couple of winners.
Tribal Instinct idled in front when passing the favourite Bressbee in the mile two-year-old maiden but still held on by half a length to credit Halford with his ninth flat winner this season while Berengarius was a second jumps winner of the year for Halford in the first division of the maiden hurdle.
"Tribal Instinct was very green in front but the track narrows towards the winning post and I believe there's a lot of improvement in him. I was happy to see Aidan's horse (La Vida Loca) not running but we'll up him to Listed class now anyway," said Halford. "Maybe Aidan will frighten some of them away!"
Favourite backers got some relief with Siamsa in the Smirnoff Handicap but were rocked back again courtesy of the 16-1 shot To Be Loved.
Locally trained by Tommy Cooper, To Be Loved is owned by the seven member Daisy The Cow syndicate - "we're all involved in farming" - and breezed home by a length under Colm O'Donoghue in the 11 furlong handicap.
Willie Mullins predicted a bright future over fences for the second division of the maiden hurdle winner, Punters Friend, who finally managed to get his head in front under a strong drive from Ruby Walsh.
"He's disappointed us since running second to Ned Kelly in a bumper, but he's a half brother to Bobby Grant and is still growing. You'll see the best of him next year and he schools really well," Mullins said.
