Sackville thrust himself even further into next season's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup picture with a remarkable weight-carrying performance in the Captain Christy Novice Handicap Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.
It was the Frances Crowley-trained gelding's seventh consecutive success, but considering Sackville had 12 st on very soft ground and still ended up six lengths clear of Shannon Gale, it ranks as probably his best-ever performance.
It was certainly enough for Cashmans to slap a 16 to 1 quote on Sackville for next season's Gold Cup, and Crowley confirmed steeplechasing's blue riband is the ultimate aim for the eight-year-old.
"The owners might want to run him in the Power Gold Cup next week, but hopefully the Gold Cup is the plan. He still has to do it against the older horses but today is a great relief," Crowley said.
The paddypower.com Bumper looked an ultra-competitive race beforehand but the punters got it absolutely right as the 11 to 8 favourite Like-A-Butterfly made it three from three for trainer Christy Roche.
The runner-up Davenport Milenium had to be switched to make his run in the straight and ran the favourite to a length and a half, but this was a performance that resounded of authority and prompted a 10 to 1 quote for next March's Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The seven-year-old mare is clearly popular with owner JP McManus and Roche said: "It's a miracle we've got her this far as JP would have had her at Martinstown Stud two months ago!" He added: "She's proved she has the engine but now she has to transfer it to hurdles."
Barry Geraghty, successful on Moscow Flyer in the big race, had earlier continued his good festival week on Feeling Grand, who patiently made her way through to get the better of Empor Star in the Glendoo Handicap Chase.
Noel Meade saddled the first two home in the Foxrock Handicap Chase, but it was the 25 to 1 top weight Church Place who came out best ahead of Ridgewood Water.
The concluding hunters chase saw the favourite It's Himself exit down the back and it was the Enda Bolger-trained Gunther McBride who eventually won under jockey Alan Fleming.
Yesterday's crowd of 6,898 bet £819,267 with the bookmakers and £215,330 with the Tote.
