Golden Cross is a best-priced 12-1 chance for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham next month following an impressive victory Fairyhouse this afternoon in the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle.
Just held by Mutineer earlier in the month at Leopardstown, Golden Cross and Charlie Swan made no mistake this time when surging away from Harchibald after the final flight to justify plenty of support in the betting ring.
Back from 11-10 to 4-6, he is now the leading Irish candidate for the Triumph Hurdle.
"That should leave Golden Cross right for Cheltenham. He is a lazy horse but digs deep and that's the best ground he has won on so far," said Curragh trainer Michael Halford.
"Charlie was impressed and is looking foward to the Festival. The horse missed the third last, but Charlie said he had plenty of horse under him in the straight," added Halford.
This was the second victory over the course and distance for the combination, and both Ladbrokes and Paddy Power reacted to the performance by cutting Golden Cross' odds to 10-1 from 16-1 though the horse is still available at 12-1 with Cashmans and Grahams.
In the preceding Bobbyjo Chase, another odds-on favourite Rince Ri had to work harder to oblige for the Ted Walsh stable in the hands of champion jockey Paul Carberry.
Takagi made good progress for Norman Williamson to land in front at the third last, but Rince Ri was back in front over the next and was driven clear by Carberry for a six lengths verdict to record his first success in 13 months.
"It is nice to see him back winning again. There are plenty of races to be won with him still and he might go to Aintree though not necessarily for the Grand National," said Ted Walsh.
Rince Ri could run at Leopardstown or Navan in the meantime, while stable mate Papillon which was a distant fourth may revert to hurdles before any decision is made about the 2000 Aintree hero attempting to win the Martell Cognac Grand National for a second time.
David Casey appeared to escape relatively unscathed from a heavy fall at the first fence from the second favourite Ballyconnell in the Isle of Skye Beginners Chase eventually won by Norman Williamson on the 12-1 chance Mystic Lord for champion trainer Noel Meade.
It was feared that Casey may have broken a collarbone initially, but the jockey eventually made his way back to the weighing room pale but apparently with no lasting damage.