Corbetts Cross made a winning debut for Emmet Mullins when landing the Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas.
The six-year-old was previously trained to point-to-point and hurdle success by Eugene O'Sullivan before joining Mullins earlier in the year.
A 7-4 chance on his first run for the stable, Corbetts Cross travelled well under Donagh Meyler and took on Found A Fifty, the 11-10 favourite, in the home straight.
The two locked horns all the way to the line, with Mullins' runner just prevailing by a head in the end to take Grade Two honours.
"It was a nice performance. I'd say it was a good race, two nice horses and he's a very nice horse," said Mullins.
"He showed a great attitude but I suppose it's nothing we didn't know. He's been a very good horse all season for Maxine and Eugene (O'Sullivan).
"Paul (Byrne, owner) said that has possibly opened up a few more avenues and he said he's open to some supplementary entries."
Bookmakers make Corbetts Cross the 5-1 co-favourite for the Albert Bartlett and when asked if that race would be on the cards, Mullins added: "That's just one option, Paul is very keen to explore all avenues.
"He could go anywhere and he might not even go to Cheltenham if the ground didn't come up right. He'll be given every option and we'll take it from there. He's versatile.
"Once it's safe ground, he's a big horse and is still a novice. The way we are thinking, there are going to be plenty more big days ahead of us and we won't run him on fast ground this season."
When asked about dropping back in trip, Mullins added: "He's shown gears and he jumped straight into it at home from the word go.
"He's just a very good horse, that's what we were told we were buying when we were getting him. It's been good business.
"It shows the quality of horse that we are dealing with, to be able to mix over three miles the last day and two miles on faster ground today.
"He's a high quality animal and it's very exciting looking forward to the future.
"They didn't hang about there, they went a good gallop the whole way. He's no slouch.
"It was a fair performance and the second is held in high regard."
On the long term prospect of the horse being even better over fences, he said: "It's the old cliche and half the time it never materialises.
"He has point-to-point form and comes from a good school in the O'Sullivans. Eugene's are all old-fashioned chasers and he has plenty of jumping done over fences.
"That's what he was bought for and hopefully next season could be a big season for him."
Rebel Gold claimed a hard-fought success for trainer Patrick Foley in the Newlands Chase.
A 5-2 chance under Denis O'Regan, the 10-year-old was stepping up to Grade Three level after some good handicap efforts of late - including a nine-length victory in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.
After running prominently, the gelding jumped the last in the lead but was headed by 1-2 favourite Coeur Sublime on the approach to the last.
The two horses jumped the final obstacle almost in unison, but it was Rebel Gold who then toughed it out to cross the line a neck to the good.
"That's brilliant, I'm absolutely delighted with him," said Foley.
"Denis said he probably even improved and he was more impressed with him today than he was in the Dan Moore.
"Not having to make it (the running) today, for a while, was a big help to him. He doesn't mind making it but it's easier when you have something to fire at.
"He beat him (Coeur Sublime) off level weights today, if the ground had been soft I would have been more confident to take him on.
"I thought he might have done us for gears on that ground but Denis said he was fine on that today. It might open more options for us.
"The Grade Two at Fairyhouse at Easter, over two-three, is a realistic option for him now. Our handicap days were finished after the Dan Moore anyway and we wanted to step him up in class and see.
"The owners are brilliant to leave things to me and I'd be happy to go for the Grade Two and then maybe let him off.
"The horse will tell us, he's taking his races super but I do want to give him a little bit of a break now after having a few runs in a short space of time.
"I'll give him a few weeks, get him spot on for Fairyhouse and then make our minds up then. We got a Grade Three today and I couldn't be happier with that."
