Outlander led home stablemate Avant Tout to give Willie Mullins a one-two in the Shannon Airport Novice Chase at Limerick.
The former was sent off the 1-2 favourite in the Gigginstown House Stud silks but jockey David Mullins had to work harder than he might have wished.
Long-time leader Avant Tout proved a worthy foe in the hands of Danny Mullins, but he lacked the extra gear of the winner, who held a length-and-three-quarter advantage at the line.
David Mullins said: “He jumps and stays well and went on today’s ground, but I think he’s better on better.
“When he runs in a more competitive race on better ground he could be an RSA horse and could have a big shout to going to Cheltenham this year.”
There was a notable success for Barry Murphy in the valuable Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase with Pairofbrowneyes.
Murphy is the son of now-retired Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Ferdy Murphy and could hardly have got off the mark in better fashion. Ridden by Mikey Fogarty, the 11-2 winner got the better of 4-1 favourite Killer Crow by four and a quarter lengths.
Murphy said: “That’s my third runner and my first winner. It’s a nice way to start and I’ve big boots to fill! “He’s a very progressive horse and his work had been very good. I’ll take a look and see where we go, but it’s great to start off with horses like him and I’d like to thank Leonard Fitzgerald (owner with successful Fibbage Syndicate).”
Murphy, based in Clonroche, was previously assistant to former partner Liz Doyle.
