LEOPARDSTOWN 13:10

Non Runners: BETTER DAYS AHEAD (IRE). Fences: 14.

Time: 5m 28.6s Closing Sectional: (4.4f): 65.1s (103.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 109%, Betfair SP 101.5%

Another Grade 1 at the meeting to help sort the Mullins pecking order as much as anything, though it was the hitherto unbeaten Croke Park who gave the major hope in the novice chase ranks for the all-conquering yard most to think about as the pair engaged from the home turn.

BALLYBURN (IRE) had no Sir Gino to contend with this time and indeed looks set to head in an entirely different direction at this Cheltenham Festival and beyond, with his strength at the finish in landing the odds here surely booking his ticket to the Broadway - a division shorn of The Jukebox Man earlier in the week - rather than an Arkle test that would almost certainly find him out and would also see him have to meet stablemate Majborough as well as a rematch with his Kempton conqueror; never far away, he jumped on 2 out and, having been headed when steadied into the last, regained the advantage on the flat before forging away as Croke Park paid the price for their battle.

CROKE PARK (IRE) underlined the belief raised on Boxing Day that he's a high-end novice but not a top-drawer one, giving his all but ultimately put in his place by a superior - and less battle-tested - rival with Cheltenham Festival pretensions; chased leader, pressed leader from end of back straight, jumped on last, headed final 1f, no extra late on.

IMPAIRE ET PASSE (FR) had his winning run ended at the hands of Croke Park as well as the novice from his stable sent off odds-on favourite and clearly felt higher up the stable's pecking order; waited with, went in snatches, lost ground sixth, not fluent ninth, rallied from home turn, no extra flat.

CHAMP KIELY (IRE) is probably too fragile - and old - to be a big player in top novice chase company; led until pecked 2 out, dropped away entering straight.

ARCTIC SKUA (IRE) had no chance at the weights and lost touch from the sixth after 9 months off (from points).

PRAIRIE DANCER (IRE) crashed out at the third.