Tranquil Sea was cut for the 2011 Ryanair Chase after he proved his Cheltenham Festival credentials in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.

Edward O’Grady’s stable star always looked to have the rearranged Grade One showpiece in the bag and after reeling in Cooldine two from home, he asserted himself and held off the challenge of a classy field of chasers.

After running well below par at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, O’Grady is now confident that the 5/2 winner can set the record straight in March.

"I'm delighted and he might go straight for the Ryanair now," O'Grady explained.

"He hasn't many options between now and then and Christmas is very close now anyway, where he would have to run over either two or three miles.  This was always his pre-Christmas target and I'm delighted that he has achieved it. I'm pleased too that he has reversed Ryanair form with J'y Vole.

"Last season he ran too close to Cheltenham and we'll try to make a better job of it this time. He has options after Cheltenham too. It was unfortunate for a horse like him that they had to miss out on three fences in this race, but he's overcome that."