Racing: Newmill ran his rivals into the ground to land the Kerrygold Champion Chase in great style despite making several mistakes on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
The 5-4 favourite set a cracking gallop and went too fast for Central House, who could not keep pace with the John Joseph Murphy-trained Queen Mother Champion Chase hero.
Tony McCoy and Fota Island tried to put in a challenge but were swiftly shrugged aside as Newmill went on to score by an emphatic 15 lengths, with Central House coming home third.
Andrew McNamara had Newmill quickly away and the eight-year-old lost no momentum when hitting the second fence. Only Fota Island and Central House could live with him and the trio were soon well clear of the opposition
The leader also made errors five out and at the third-last but looked in a different class and jumped the final two fences safely to confirm his status as champion two-miler chaser.
VC Bet cut Newmill to 6-1 joint-favourite with Kauto Star from 10-1 to complete back-to-back victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase next March.
"People would put his Cheltenham run down to all of the fallers but he's come here today and proved himself," declared McNamara. "To come here and do it like he did was a really good performance. Holding him up was never really an option as he's a two-mile front-running chaser."
Fota Island's trainer Mouse Morris held his hands up and admitted the JP McManus-owned gelding was beaten by a better horse on the day.
"The winner was just too good for us, end of story," he said. "They had just gone that shade too quick for him."
Dessie Hughes, who trains third-placed Central House, was happy enough with the outcome competing on unsuitable ground. "He's run pound-to-pound with his Cheltenham form and the same distance behind Fota Island," he said.
"The winner would love the ground but my fellow wants it soft or heavy - we will go along the same route next season."
In the second race Iktitaf floored hot favourite Straw Bear to cause an upset in the VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle. Ruby Walsh brought Noel Meade's charge to storm past Straw Bear, ridden by Tony McCoy, between the last two flights.
The 8-1 shot went well clear on the run-in to win by seven lengths. Jazz Messenger, also trained by Meade, was third. The latter made the early running but Straw Bear pulled his way to the front at the third flight, although the seven-strong field remained tightly packed until the closing stages.
Sublimity and Sweet Wake, Meade's third runner, looked dangerous but their efforts petered out and it was Iktitaf who laid down a big challenge. Straw Bear had no answer as the five-year-old made a stunning comeback in his first race since injuring a leg when beaten on this course in February.
2.05 DNG Nationwide Steeplechase (Ladies Perp.Cup)
1st Abram's Bridge 3/1fav
2nd Wonderkid 9/2
3rd Red Setter 14/1
4th Misty's Express 50/1
2.40 VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle
1st Iktitaf 8/1
2nd Straw Bear 8/11fav
3rd Jazz Messenger 20/1
4th Sublimity 5/1
3.15 Kerrygold Champion Steeplechase
1st Newmill 5/4fav
2nd Fota Island 9/4
3rd Central House 6/1
4th Steel Band 66/1
3.50 Ellier Developments Novice Steeplechase
1st Missed That 4/1
2nd Slim Pickings 7/2
3rd Our Ben 5/1
4th Public Reaction 25/1
4.25 Evening Herald Handicap Hurdle
1st Joueur D'Estruval 20/1
2nd Adamant Approach 14/1
3rd Knight Legend 16/1
4th Moore's Law 12/1