Potters Point comes home in front at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
< Real Steel pulled out all the stops to land the feature Panoramic Restaurant Handicap Chase in a thrilling three-way finish at Punchestown.
The Mouse Morris-trained seven-year-old, who has been highly tried this season, was sent off the 11-4 favourite for the two-mile contest and shared pacesetting duties up front with Foildubh for most of the way.
The pair were joined by Mister Hotelier in the closing stages and though Real Steel looked to have done himself no favours with a bad error at the final fence, David Mullins soon had him driving forward again and he beat Foildubh by half a length.
There was another success for the Gigginstown House Stud team when The Game Changer making his debut over the larger obstacles, put in a fine front-running performance to take the Event Centre Beginners Chase.
Gordon Elliott's 6-4 favourite responded well to the enterprising tactics adopted by Davy Russell, back in the familiar silks, as he jumped fluently in the main, while Daneking made several errors and was well beaten, trailing in 13 lengths behind.
Willie Mullins' ex-French filly Limini (5-4 favourite) made a successful Irish debut in the Kildare Hunt Club Maiden Hurdle, easing to victory by half a length under a confident Paul Townend after a slow jump at the last gave supporters a scare.
Noel Meade's 3-1 favourite Champoleon could hardly have been more impressive as he returned from a lay-off to take the Punchestown For Events Maiden Hurdle, cruising ahead going to the last under Paul Carberry and scoring by four and a half lengths.< Na Trachtalai Abu looked to have a bit to do going to the last in the punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle but James Motherway's 10-1 chance stayed on stoutly and forged a length and a quarter clear on the run-in in the hands of Mark Walsh.
Mikey Fogarty gave the Mary Louise Hallahan-trained Fr Humphrey a positive ride in the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap Chase and the post came just in time for the 16-1 shot, who held on by a head as As De Pique closed rapidly.
