The 5-1 favourite raced prominently throughout the extended four miles and one furlong in company with Ossmoses and Control Man. Very few others got into the race and the eventual winner and Ossmoses had the race between them five fences from home. But it was not until approaching the last that G V A Ireland began to assert and stayed on to beat the Don Forster-trained Ossmoses by four lengths. The runner-up was 14 lengths clear of the third L'Aventure with Victory Gunner fourth.

"It's been a great week, " said Walsh. "This horse jumped well, travelled well and stayed and he carried no weight on his back. I didn't really want to be in front but they weren't going a great gallop and he was just lobbing away so I let him stay there. I looked at the track beforehand and Richard McGrath was wide on Ossmoses and I thought he was a danger so I stuck close to him towards the outside.

The trainer was represented by his son Francis junior, who said: "We had plans to come across for a shot at the Eider at Newcastle but his blood was wrong about five or six days before so we had to wait for this.

"We don't get four-milers in Ireland and we've thought all the time he was tailor-made for it. Ruby has come back in and he was really impressed with the way he jumped and he thinks the horse could come back for the English National next year. We'll definitely stick him in the Irish National this year."

Flood junior had been concerned how his charge would handle the heavy going.

"He's only a small horse and I was worried how he might cope with the heavy ground but he galloped away and coped with it very well."

Although the horse was sent off favourite, connections had not been overly confident and Flood junior added: "We didn't come over here bullish or anything, just hopeful we'd get close but the horse has done the job well and I suppose people latched on to Ruby as he's had a great Cheltenham."

Sarahs Quay gave Kahlil Burke his first winner under Rules when she scored at Sedgefield last month and she gave her first-season trainer another boost by lifting the £30,000 EBF/Tattersalls (Ireland) Mares' Only Novices' Chase Final.

Colin Bolger sent the 14-1 chance on at halfway and jumping boldly, she galloped the opposition into the ground to score by 10 lengths from Lizzie Bathwick despite racing from out of the handicap.

"She's a lovely little mare but she's quirky, " said Burke.

"I never thought a day like this would come with her but fair play to Colin Bolger because it was the first time he has sat on the mare. If you read through her form she's been a sketchy and dodgy jumper but Colin has given her a great ride.

"You dream of things like this."