< Cousin Vinny returned from nearly two years off the track with a superb performance in the Festival Free Upgrade Offer Ends Today Hurdle at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins' nine-year-old, winner of the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2008 and high class over hurdles, raced in third for much of the way and looked to have it to do when Won In The Dark made a move between the final two flights.
But Ruby Walsh was alert to the danger and had Cousin Vinny (8-11 favourite) in front by the last, though he made a hash of it before recovering well to surge three and a quarter lengths clear.< The Bishop Looney (8-1) recorded a confidence-boosting victory in the Festival Any Day Flexi-Ticket Hurdle after suffering a fall in the Thyestes Chase on his last run.
TJ Nagle's charge was third jumping the final flight, but his stamina kicked in and he surged past the leaders to beat favourite Maggie Connolly by a length and a half in the hands of Tom Doyle.< Charlie's Vic has won a point-to-point and a bumper and Noel Kelly's five-year-old added the punchestown.com For Festival Offers Mares Maiden Hurdle to that list in impressive style.
Derek Fox sent the 6-1 shot on rounding the home turn and she swept clear, going right away after the final flight to beat Tango Moll by 21 lengths.
Conor O'Dwyer's 6-5 favourite Competitive Edge got his head in front for the first time when forging clear of Double Double to win the Festival Party Pack From 19euro Maiden Hurdle by three lengths after taking it up nearing the last under Mark Walsh.
There were two bumpers on the card and both of them were won in emphatic style by Nina Carberry.
First the highly promising Noel Meade-trained Ange Blanc (7-2 co-favourite) strode clear to score by two and three-quarter lengths, then Gordon Elliott's In The Binyanis (3-1 joint-favourite) finished seven lengths in front.
