Ben Button negotiates the last in Galway© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins continued his domination of this year's Galway Festival as Ben Button hacked up in the extended three mile handicap hurdle.
Ruby Walsh was motionless as Ben Button loomed large behind Newsworthy sweeping for home.
Ben Button moved to the front before the last and drew right away on the run-in to land the spoils by 12 lengths.
He was backed from 7/2 to 11/4 favourite. Tulsa Jack (14/1) came in second. Newsworthy made a mistake at the last and dropped to third at 14/1. Each-way players got a return from fourth-placed Letter Of Credit (33/1).
Ruby Walsh said: "The only difference was the ground, the ground was too quick at Downpatrick last time. To be fair to the opposition you are in with, 98 per cent are summer horses who want good ground. I'm riding the one horse who wants heavy ground. It's testing ground, sloppy, hard work.
"I'd say that really flattered him against summer horses. It they had their ground it would have been turned the other way round."
This was the 10th winner of the week for Mullins.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
