Kitten Rock ran out an impressive winner of the Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas.
Trained by Edward O'Grady, Kitten Rock was delivered with a perfectly-timed run by Ruby Walsh to triumph by seven and a half lengths.
Willie Mullins' Analifet was sent off the 4-5 favourite and Bryan Cooper was positive from the off, setting the early gallop on testing conditions, but she was clearly under pressure with two to jump.
Kitten Rock was travelling well upsides, though, and when Walsh gave the signal, the 7-2 chance eased clear of Henry Higgins, with Analifet dropping right away at the finish.
"He won quite well and I'm happy," said O'Grady.
"We think he's nice, but I don't know where we will go now. It's very difficult with a four-year-old in their second season.
"I thought he would have to be good to win as, although he was well fit enough to run, there is loads of improvement in him and he gave a right good blow.
"Ruby was impressed with his jumping and down the line I see him as a Grade One chaser, hopefully, as he's just shy of 17 hands.
"How high he goes at this game I don't know, but I'm just delighted to have him."
Walsh said: "He's a super horse. He travelled well and he's a horse you would have to like.
"Where Mr O'Grady goes next, I don't know, but next year he will be a lovely chaser."
Walsh later made it a double aboard the Eric McNamara-trained Sir Harry Cash (5-1) in the Thoroughbred County Novice Handicap Chase.
Free Expression (11-10 favourite) ran out a four-and-a-half-length winner of the www.naasracecourse.com Maiden Hurdle but the stewards' attention was focussed on the unplaced Mount Corkish Girl.
They inquired into the running and riding of the Gillian Callaghan-trained mare, finding the handler and rider Andrew Lynch guilty of not running Mount Corkish Girl on her merits.
Callaghan was fined €1,000, Lynch banned for seven days and the horse suspended from running for 60 days.
Real Steel got the better of Le Vent D'Antan in the Naas Annual Membership Beginners Chase for Mouse Morris, giving rider Bryan Cooper the first leg of a double.
The six-year-old son of Old Vic, previously trained by Philip Fenton but now in the care of Morris, scored by four and a half lengths.
Morris said: "He did it well. He jumped well and fiddled them well. He settled well also.
"He had done plenty of schooling. I think he'll make a nice three-miler."
Cooper then struck gold aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Killer Crow (3-1) in the Book Hospitality On Line Maiden Hurdle.
The Big Apple (5-2 joint favourite) impressed in running out a 12-length winner of the Go Racing In Kildare Membership 2015 (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Trained by Christy Roche and ridden by his son, Padraig, the JP McManus-owned runner easily had the measure of Ma Garrett, with Tully East back in third.
However, Tully East was subsequently disqualified after rider Katie Walsh failed to weigh in, a mistake which cost her a five-day suspension.
O'Donoghue's Opera was duly promoted from fourth.
