First Lieutenant finished last of the three finishers on his return to timber behind Rolly Baby in the Thurles Racecourse Hurdle.
Mouse Morris' one-time top-class chaser has been below his best this season and is being prepared for a crack at the Crabbie's Grand National next month.
Attempting to make all under Bryan Cooper, he gave his hurdles plenty of air and when Ruby Walsh loomed up on the Willie Mullins-trained lightly-raced 10-year-old he could find no extra.
Rolly Baby (5-2) had to be hard-ridden to see off Archie Meade, while to First Lieutenant's credit he kept galloping all the way to the line on what was his first start over the smaller obstacles since May 2011.
The winner was the only runner of the day for the all-conquering Mullins and Walsh.
Mullins said: "I took a chance running him (so soon following his previous run) as he has had problems. He's been very difficult to train and at ten, is now only learning to settle.
"He has ability, though, and he has the option of another race like this or else he could go chasing. I'll speak with Ruby, but he could win two chases before the ground gets firm."
