Racing - Punchestown report:Willie Mullins is likely to step Mikael d'Haguenetback up in class after the 2-5 favourite duly disposed of his three rivals in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Hurdle.
The three-times Grade One winner had ended a lean spell going back to May 2009 with a victory at Fairyhouse four weeks ago and followed up with little difficulty in this two-and-a-half-mile heat.
After tracking the pace-setting Western Leader for most of the race, the seven-year-old was asked to go about his business by Ruby Walsh after jumping the second-last flight.
Taking the lead on the turn for home, he pulled away to score by seven and a half lengths from Western Leader, who made an encouraging reappearance after 631 days off the track.
Mullins said: “We’ll probably have to go up in grade after that. It’s unlikely we’ll find another opportunity like that.
“It has been a chance to get his confidence back and hopefully he will keep improving. He got a bit lazy when he hit the front.”
Son Amixmade amends for an early exit in a Grade One contest at Leopardstown three days earlier by getting off the mark over fences in the Punchestown Hospitality Beginners Chase.
The grey had unseated trainer Tom Cooper’s son Bryan at the 10th fence in the Fort Leney Chase, but put in a good round of jumping when brought out again quickly.
A fine leap at the last saw the 7-4 shot head Soll and the favourite Fully Funded to go on and beat the former by a neck.
The Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown is on the cards for Shadow Catcherafter he landed a gamble on his jumping debut.
Backed down to 7-4 favourite in the Festival Hospitality 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle, Gordon Elliott’s charge showed commendable battling qualities to get back up to win by half a length after being headed by Darroun.
Luke's Benefitput in a sound display to take the Buy Annual Membership 2012 Handicap Chase.
The 7-4 favourite took a clear lead three out and ran on strongly to hold Senior Again by four and a half lengths.
Katie Walsh enjoyed a 15-length success on 100-30 favourite That'll Do Mein the Buy Your Tickets Online Handicap Hurdle for her father, Ted.
And Ireland's other leading female rider Nina Carberry got home by 18 lengths on Kates Benefit(7-1) in the concluding bumper for David Kenneth Budds.