A good jump at the last helped JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Landofhopeandglory maintain his unbeaten jumping record in the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The classy Flat performer had not been tested in his first two outings over timber and was sent off the even-money favourite to win again for Joseph O'Brien.
However, he had a real fight on his hands as the Willie Mullins-trained Bapaume had them all on the stretch.
It all came down to who jumped the final flight the best and while Ruby Walsh's mount landed on all fours, the High Chaparral gelding flew it under Barry Geraghty and went on to win by a length.
Geraghty said: "It rode like a decent race. It was a bit tactical and Ruby was trying to dictate from the front, which we were all aware of, but when you have the horse it's always much easier.
"He missed the second-last, but I made his mind up going to the last and he winged it.
"He's shaping up to be a Triumph Hurdle horse."
O'Brien said: "It was a good performance. They kind of sprinted down over the last two. He had to be right and Barry gave him a great ride. It was his biggest test so far.
"We'd have to think about Christmas now. It will be one step at a time with him, but you'd be delighted with today.
"The faster they go for him, the better he'll be you'd imagine. I was delighted with that and Barry was delighted.
"He jumped better today, he was a bit more measured. Barry said he was a bit big at the first, but other than that he was a bit better. Each race that is getting better.
"It's probably as good a three-year-old hurdle as has been run in Ireland anyway."
Asked to compare with last season's Triumph winner Ivanovich Gorbatov he said: "Ivanovich went to Christmas for his maiden, while this lad is after having three runs.
"They are different models and it's hard to compare the two of them because they aren't similar types really."
Stan James make the winner their 7-1 market leader for the Triumph at Cheltenham in March from 8-1.
Waxies Dargle (16-1) took advantage of the final-flight fall of Campeador to win the Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott's Campeador was the chosen mount of Barry Geraghty from seven runners in the race and it looked for all the world like he was on the right one.
Geraghty had not moved a muscle as he cruised to the front but he took a crashing fall at the last, just as he had done in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March.
Campeador brought down Sir Scorpion, another in the McManus silks, yet the owner still won the race as Noel Meade's Waxies Dargle finished strongly under Sean Flanagan to beat Morga by three-quarters of a length.
"It's nice to be lucky an odd time. I've always thought he wanted softer ground, but when a melee happens you're lucky to be there," said Meade.
"He ran over two-five at Cheltenham so two and a half is no problem to him. He'll run in similar races, that's what he has been doing, and it's nice to get one like that.
"I'm sure he'll run in the Coral.ie Hurdle. He ran in the English Ladbroke last year so whether he goes there or not, I don't know. He didn't run particularly well that day, but he was fourth in the Greatwood and fourth in the Coral Cup, so he's been knocking on the door.
"He deserved to win a race like that, even if it is by default."
Getabird landed the odds in the closing bumper and looked a top-class prospect in the process.
Unlike the majority of Rich Ricci's famous string which were sourced in France, this one was a winning pointer in Ireland and was sent off the 8-11 favourite.
Patrick Mullins tracked Imperial Way through and the two pulled miles clear of the rest which is always a good sign and Getabird stormed 12 lengths clear to give Willie Mullins a double on the day.
The winning trainer said: "He's shown me a little bit at home, but never showed me that.
"We took a chance coming here because this is usually a hot bumper, so we're very pleased with a performance like that.
"Patrick thought he was going flat out but when he pulled him out he took a pull as he would have hit the front too soon."
