Madam Bovary and 'Puppy' Power get over the last at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
< Hurricane Fly set Punchestown alight as he demolished the opposition with a superb performance in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle on another red-letter day for Willie Mullins.
The nine-year-old, sent off the 1-4 favourite to win the Grade One contest for the fourth time in a row, settled in third as his stable companion Thousand Stars led Rock On Ruby for most of the way.
Rock On Ruby tried to impose his authority on the home turn, but Ruby Walsh skipped past on Hurricane Fly and had the race won at the last before easing past the post with seven lengths to spare from Thousand Stars.
Only three went to post for the day's other Grade One event, the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle, but it produced a thrilling finish as the Mullins-trained Un Atout fought it out with British challenger Ubak
Davy Russell led all the way on the the 4-6 favourite in the Gigginstown House Stud colours, but he was collared on the run-in by his market rival before digging deep to get back up by a neck.
Mullins made it a hat-trick as 5-4 favourite Un De Sceaux led all the way in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle, travelling sweetly into the straight and sauntering away on the run-in to beat Moscow Mannon by 13 lengths.
It completed a double for Walsh, but he is still four behind Russell in the jockeys' title race with just a day to go.
Jessie Harrington's mare Madam Bovary (20-1) led two out under Robbie Power in the Aon Novice Handicap Chase and saw off Saoirse Dun by five and a half lengths, while amateur Jamie Flynn got Jim Dreaper's Goonyella (13-2) up by a head in a thrilling finish to the Breakfast With Hector On 2FM Handicap Chase.
Rodger Sweeney's 5-4 favourite Salsify was a lucky winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunter but there was no doubting him in the Racing Post Champion Hunters Chase as he beat Oscar Delta with complete authority under Colman Sweeney.
