For the second race in succession, it was the visitors who plundered the spoils as Ascending Lark maintained her unbeaten record over flights to win the Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

Boasting a perfect five from five in her native Britain, the Harry Derham trained mare struck on her first visit to this country.

Irish born jockey Paul O'Brien produced the seven-year-old from well off the pace to go fourth jumping the flight flight. She found plenty for pressure, staying on strongly to head fellow British raider Wilful on the run-in to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.

O'Brien said: "That was brilliant. Probably my first festival winner I guess you could say. Fantastic to come over here and a good training performance by Harry(Derham) to bring her on as well.

"It didn't go to plan really at all. She didn't travel. She jumped okay but I was flat to the tin all the way. She just started to come alive when we turned to face two out I guess, maybe half-a-mile out.

"She picked up really well from there. She was quick away from the last. I thought it was a good performance.

"The ground is just on the easy side of good. It's lovely."

Harry Derham added: “There is not many that win six never mind six in a row!

“We didn’t plan on being that far back but she’s a good horse. He said he was going to ride her to come home and come home she has.

“Will (Watt) gave John (Lalor) half of her as a wedding present so it was quite the gift!

“A couple of times last year I was on the verge of retiring her. I couldn’t get her right and she didn’t run to her mark, but her owners were very patient and thank God they were as she’s some mare.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.