Eachtotheirown produced a power-packed front-running performance to bag Grade 1 glory in the PRL Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown for Barry Connell.

Sean Flanagan timed his fractions to perfection and had his rivals on the stretch turning for home in the two-miler.

Eachtotheirown wore a hood in a race for the first time today having faded after racing keenly in the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham last month.

Connell, who owns the winner in partnership with Tim O’Driscoll, said afterwards:-

"He was 'rank' the last day so the obvious thing to do was to leave him off in front today and he got a 'freebie'.

“We have three Grade 1 runners (at Punchestown) and three bullets, and the first has gone in.

"That is a good horse, only has had a handful of runs over hurdles but he is a chaser and we've had to wait for him as he is a big stamp of a horse. He was like a chaser jumping his hurdles today and has a fair engine. 

"The Arkle Chase (at Cheltenham) is to the forefront of my mind for him next season as he is an out-and-out two-miler who doesn't like being restrained.

“He has been a slow burner and they went no gallop in the Supreme the last day, and to be fair to Sean, he left him coast home and came here a fresh horse.

"Next season, he will come back for a beginners chase before the ground gets bottomless and then go to Leopardstown twice before Cheltenham."

He added:- "It is magic to have a winner here and we only have 12 or 13 riding out at the moment.

“We try to keep quality rather than quantity and, with any outside owners, they have to be 'schooled' into our way of thinking.

“I had to ring Tim to tell him that this horse needed another nine months and he said 'no problem', so we have been paid back in spades now."

Paddy Power gave the winner a 40/1 quote for the Arkle Chase next season.

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)