Freezing fog meant racegoers didn't see much but they saw enough to know that Grand National hero, Papillon, is doing just fine in his preparation for an Aintree repeat.

Papillon remains as low as 14 to 1 for the National after failing by a length to beat Klairon Davis in the £20,000 Normans Grove Chase.

Winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1996 and the Arkle the year before, Klairon Davis was winning his 20th race from 51 starts for Arthur Moore, bringing his career earnings to almost £370,000.

"I'm thrilled. A lot of people would say we are cruel to keep him in training but he is happy in the yard and happy in himself," said Moore.

"He's certainly happier than if he was miserable outside in the cold. And there's a fair bit of life in him!" added a smiling Moore.

It was the gelding's first win since January of 1999 and his sixth at Fairyhouse. But Papillon's trainer wasn't disappointed. "He wasn't even mapped in this race last year but he seems to be in a different frame of mind now and competitive," said Ted Walsh who didn't rule out a pre-Liverpool trip to Britain for Papillon.

"I'll keep him ticking over and run him in the next three weeks or so," added Walsh.

It was not a good day for odds-on backers and with three 20 to 1 winners backed up by a 10 to 1 scorer, the bookmakers weren't exactly feeling the cold.

Nomadic was a 4 to 6 chance on his fencing debut but made a bad mistake six out in the Beginners Chase and appeared well beaten behind the pace-setting Wyn Wan Soon when crashing at the last.

Trevino emerged from the fog in control of the novice hurdle series and continued Frances Crowley's run of form.

Backers endured more heartache when the 20 to 1 Shade Me Shauny had just too much in the tank for Killimor Castle in the Ratoath Handicap Hurdle.

Dermot Weld's newcomer Direct Bearing short-headed Prince Of Tara off a funeral early pace in the bumper and earned a 12 to 1 Cheltenham quote from Cashmans.

Limestone Lad is joint-favourite at 5 to 1 with Cork bookmakers Cashmans for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham after a successful return to hurdling as an odds-on favourite at Naas on Saturday.

Starting 1 to 3, the top weight had no difficulty in repeating last year's victory in the Bank of Ireland Hurdle when reunited with conditional jockey Shane McGovern.

The combination, runner-up to Bacchanal in last season's Stayers' Hurdle, is on target for another crack at the Cheltenham showpiece according to McGovern.

"Early on in the race, he was looking after himself as he seemed unsure as to whether he should be jumping a fence or a hurdle.

"But he let fly two out and the race was over in a matter of strides. I am delighted with the run and looking forward to Cheltenham again," he said.

Owner-trainer Jim Bowe's son Michael, who looks after the horse, added: "He was idling in front but has had only one pop over hurdles since he stopped jumping fences and he will improve again fitness-wise for his next run at Navan in the Boyne Hurdle."

Limestone Lad again made all the running and briefly the eventual runner-up Slaney Native threatened off the last bend until McGovern let his mount open up two out to win by six lengths.

Bookmakers Sean Graham tightened the winner a point to 4 to 1 for the Stayers' Hurdle.

Sackville was also a runaway odds-on winner of the preceding Gowla Novice Chase and will reappear in eight days' time at Leopardstown in the Moriarty Chase before going for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase for which Cashmans quote him the 6 to 1 second favourite behind Bacchanal (3 to 1).

The eight-year-old took the three-mile event by 12 lengths in the hands of Barry Geraghty.