The father and son team of Ted and Ruby Walsh combined to win their biggest prize as a partnership when Rince Ri trounced the opposition in yesterday's Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
Beaten by Micko's Dream on his previous start, Rince Ri comprehensively reversed that form and also put nine lengths between himself and Promalee after touching down alongside at the last.
Rince Ri did that despite jumping sketchily in the early stages, so sketchily that Walsh Jnr had little choice but to allow his big two rivals to lead him into the straight.
However, the strapping gelding had steadily warmed to his task and when Promalee had got the better of Micko's Dream, he had nothing left to cope with Rince Ri's sparkling finish.
Rince Ri now has a number of options at Punchestown including the David Austin Chase, the Heineken Cup and a £30,000 novice chase.
"Maybe the trip suited him better today but he wouldn't have beaten Micko's Dream at any stage at Naas. Today was just his day. It goes like that. Papillon did a suspensory in the National on Monday but this makes up for that," said Walsh Snr.
The inspired morning support that saw the 25 to 1 Ladbrokes put next to She's Our Mare quickly gobbled up was justified in some style when the Tony Martin-trained mare arrived late and decisively to win the Powers Handicap Hurdle.
She's Our Mare eventually went off at 12 to 1 and although Owen Bart loomed like a winner in the straight he could not cope with David Casey's perfectly timed challenge on the winner and went down by two and a half lengths.
She's Our Mare will be campaigned on the flat and over flights through the summer and Martin is also considering the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May for his speedy charge.
Both bumpers produced superb finishes with Aidan Fitzgerald doing well to win the £50,000 Goffs Landrover Bumper on Berkeley Run.
The 4,200 guineas purchase was hard ridden from a long way out but kept going admirably and when challenged by Intacta Print close home just got the benefit of the nod.
Fitzgerald, however, got a four-day whip to go with the five-day suspension he picked up at Cork on Monday and Josh Byrne on the runner-up received a six-day whip suspension.
The Point-To-Point Series Final was also won by the minimum margin with Southsea Native just getting back up under Robert Patton to beat The Bunny Boiler in a thrilling finish.
Royal Marine bounced back to form with a smooth success in the RFL Hurdle and in the concluding hunters chase, the favourite Sheltering extended his winning run despite being run close by the veteran Flashing Steel.
