Irish Point announced himself as a major player in the staying division with an authoritative display in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, the five-year-old was a Grade One-winning novice at Aintree in the spring and returned to action this season with a victory over the useful mare Magical Zoe.
This represented a steep rise in grade, however, against last year's winner Home By The Lee, Asterion Forlonge and Buddy One.
By the time Home By The Lee had cried enough on the turn for home, Jack Kennedy came looming up between horses on Irish Point, the heavily backed even-money favourite.
Asterion Forlonge was the only one to go with him but only briefly and Irish Point cruised to an 11-length success.
He runs in Brian Acheson's Robcour colours, who already have one legitimate Stayers' Hurdle contender in Teahupoo.
Irish Point (EvensF) steps up in trip and takes the Grade One Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle in emphatic style for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/VI6HovAIlP
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 28, 2023
"Jack said he would have done more in a piece of work at home," said Elliott.
"He was very professional, settled and did everything great.
"You are always worried stepping up to three miles. It's a nice race to win, we've a couple for that division now and it's a good problem to have.
"We've a great bunch of horses and Jack said to me there that all I have to do now is to make sure to split them up.
"He could be a horse that we'd keep for Aintree, we'll enjoy today and see what happens. The horse was very good and I thought it was a great performance.
"I thought he was so relaxed that he ticked all the boxes to stay, but you are always nervous until he does it.
"Jack said he actually thought halfway down the back that he was so relaxed, but he said when he gave him a squeeze he leapt straight back on it."
Fact To File impressed on his second start over fences in the Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase.
Second in the Champion Bumper in March, Willie Mullins elected to skip a season over hurdles and send him straight over fences, something he has done with a degree of success in the past with the likes of Florida Pearl.
However, he was beaten on his initial run over the bigger obstacles by Gordon Elliott's American Mike and appeared to face some classy rivals this time in stablemate Minella Cocooner and Zanahiyr, both big-race winners over hurdles.
Galopin Des Champs and Gentlemansgame had won the corresponding race for the past two seasons and Fact To File went off the 4-6 favourite to follow in their footsteps, doing so with aplomb, beating Zanahiyr by 17 lengths under Mark Walsh.
Fact To File (4-6F) is a facile winner of the Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase at Leopardstown for Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh. pic.twitter.com/e0h6qrf2tO
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 28, 2023
"He has Cheltenham bumper form from last year. He looks like a chaser, he certainly looked like one there, so we decided to skip his novice hurdle year and just go straight chasing," said Mullins.
"Today is the reason that I hoped we'd be right.
"He's a horse I've loved since the first day he came into the stable. I think he could go the whole way, with a bit of luck - you need a lot of luck in this game."
Mullins' Jade De Grugy was cut for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham following an impressive Irish debut in the Savills Maiden Hurdle.
Despite 16 runners, only two were ever involved, with Tom Cooper's Butcher Hollow going with the eventual winner all the way to the second-last when her superiority took over and the 5-4 favourite pulled 15 lengths clear.
Paul Townend was on board and said: "She's exciting, she did it nicely. I thought we built up down the back the second time and she stayed going well.
"She obviously stays well, the ground is testing there, and she has a lovely attitude. She jumped well and did everything nicely.
"I was going easy so I felt like I was dictating it a bit. I jumped one well down the back and Sean (Flanagan) came with me and pushed me from the last down the back from there home."
Rachael Blackmore certainly earned her riding fee on Music Of Tara (7-2F) who went two better than last year in the Irish Daily Star Handicap Hurdle.
Third behind Sam's Choice 12 months ago, the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare was under pressure a long way from home but stayed on strongly to win by two lengths.
"I thought we were in trouble turning in, but she stayed on really well. She just doesn't really travel, but she's a really gutsy mare and Rachael was brilliant on her," said De Bromhead.
"I'm delighted for the Achesons and the Shanahans (owners), it's great to get it. We said we'd have a go at this and it's nice when it works out.
"We might look at a Pertemps qualifier. She has to go left-handed, that's one thing we have worked out.
"She looked all out turning in, but going to the last I thought by Rachael's actions that she knew she had a fair chance."
Ted Walsh's Gaoth Chuil (5-1) was given a cool ride by Shane O’Callaghan to win the Pertemps Qualifier.
"It’s great to win, Leopardstown is a special place and I’ve had a lot of luck here over the years with some very good horses," said Walsh.
"She’s a good tough little mare, she’s owned and bred by Michael Ryan. He had the dam and Harzand is a good stallion.
"She’s only five and whether she runs at Cheltenham is a question mark, we have the option now if we want to go."
Gordon Elliott won the closing bumper with Patter Merchant (1-2 favourite).
"He’s a nice horse, he’s a horse to go jumping and you probably won’t see much more of him this year. He’s a horse for next year," said Elliott.
"Harry (Swan) said he should have let him slide on, as he’s just a galloper but we like him."
