Some Plan ran out a rather fortuitous winner of the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown as his three rivals failed to complete in the Grade One contest.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained winner, who was sent off at 10-3, seemed to be fighting a losing battle behind Royal Caviar under Ruby Walsh approaching the last, only for his rival to plough through the final fence with the race at his mercy.
Identity Thief, also trained by De Bromhead, came into the race undefeated in two starts over the larger obstacles, but unseated David Mullins at the very first fence.
The same fate befell Barry Geraghty at the third fence as he was unshipped by the well-backed 15-8 favourite Bleu Et Rouge.
De Bromhead and Some Plan’s owner Roger Brookhouse have enjoyed a fine flight as they claimed the Thyestes Chase at Gowran on Thursday with Champagne West.
"Some Plan finishes alone" - look back on a dramatic Arkle Novice Chase at #Leopardstown #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/e6hLEyKoLv
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 29, 2017
Melon (4-9 favourite) confirmed his tall reputation by making a winning debut over jumps in the Donohue Marquees Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The French import, trained by Willie Mullins, was already prominent in the betting for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before being seen in public.
Melon did not disappoint as he disposed of the opposition in convincing fashion.
Ruby Walsh sat in third place on Melon as the experienced Broken Soul made the running, before taking it up after the second-last.
Though Melon was a little untidy at the final flight, it did not stop his momentum as he came home 10 lengths clear.
Melon was cut to a best-price 11-2 for the Supreme.
Walsh said: "He did it well. He travelled well and jumped well at a good gallop.
"He was a bit long at the last but it was a maiden hurdle.
"How much more we learned, I don't know. The only other horse in the race with form was the Gigginstown horse (Broken Soul) and he's beaten him. It was a good start.
"Talkers tend not to gallop, but thankfully he galloped today."
Asked if he could be Cheltenham material, Walsh added: "In time. He'd want another run."
Mullins said: "He'd been showing me this for a long while. He did a nice gallop in the autumn and I was afraid to do any more with him. We just waited and waited until he came right, and he's right now at the right time.
"He lacks a bit of experience for his next run, but we'll have to try and give him that at home. It will possibly be in the first race (at Cheltenham) in March. We have plenty of experience into him, and I thought for a horse having his first run he jumped very well except for the last. You would rather have another run or two.
"He's improving all the time as he gets fitter and stronger. I thought he looked very well today. Broken Soul made sure there was no hiding place for any horse today, and even at that good gallop Ruby looked under pressure to hold him.
"Once he's upped in grade they will be going a step faster, and he will be easier ridden at that stage."
Let's Dance (8-11 favourite) gave Mullins and Walsh a quick double with an emphatic success in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners solicitors '50,000 Cheltenham Bonus Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle.
Jumping to the front three out, Let's Dance pulled well to clear to win by six lengths from stablemate Kemboy and take her winning run over hurdles to four.
Blood Crazed Tiger was setting the pace when taking a crahing all five out. Both horse and rider Jack Kennedy were quickly on their feet.
Mullins said: "The advantage she has is that she's a second-season novice in against real novices.
"She ran last year but didn't win and we just ran her in big races because she started off so late in the season.
"We took a chance that if she won one, all well and good, but if she didn't she'd have all the experience for this year.
"I think that's paying off for her, apart from the fact that she's a good filly anyway. The conditions of the race suited her here. She did it well.
"We have to try and pick the right race for her at Cheltenham now. The mares' novice would look the obvious one, but that's only two and a quarter miles.
"She might be better off running in maybe the Neptune or the Mares' Hurdle, something a bit longer. We'll see what turns up in the mares' novice.
"Two-and-a-quarter around Cheltenham would be a good gallop, though, and it's more than likely the one. We'll see as we have a few nice mares for that race.
"We won't have to make up our mind for a while and we'll see how she comes out of that."
Mullins sees the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham as a possible target for Kemboy.
"He could be an Albert Bartlett type the way he raced there," said the Closutton handler.
"He impressed me in his work during the week. He was running a real good race until that mistake. He's improving all the time."
Elusive Ivy (6-1) got up close home to deny the luckless Powersbomb in the Sandyford Handicap Chase.
Jack Kennedy's patience paid off as he produced Gavin Cromwell's mare late to get the verdict by a head from Powersbomb, who had fought his way back into the lead after dropping back when making a bad mistake at the second-last fence.
The always-prominent Katnap (9-2) came out on top in the 'Club 30' Membership Handicap Chase under 5lb claimer JJ Slevin.
After brushing aside fellow pacemaker Aurora Bell, Joseph O'Brien's 10-year-old kept on stoutly to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Thomond.
Debuchet (13-8 joint-favourite) made most of the running to get off the mark in the Leopardstown Club Membership (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Second on his debut three weeks earlier, Mags Mullins' four-year-old made all in the hands of Patrick Mullins to win by six and a half lengths from Le Richebourg.
