Majborough was a little bit wayward at his fences in the closing stages but his class shone through as he ran out an easy winner of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old pulled his way to the front before the third fence in the two-miler and jumped well in the early stages.

He was untidy at the fifth last though and got close at the next. His tendency to jump left became more pronounced at the third last but it made little odds.

The Martinborough gelding had his rivals at work turning for home and stretched clear before the last, which he brushed through.

Walsh, in the colours of JP McManus, only had to nurse him home on the run-in to record an impressive 14-length success over Only By Night

Mullins said:- “He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn’t go right for him in Cheltenham but he’s redeemed himself today.

“He’s a huge, big horse but he’s very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn’t one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn’t have galloped him one more time.

“He’s only five and hopefully he’ll mature this summer. I’m looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years.

“What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.”

Walsh told RTE:- “He has some engine. He always jumps a little bit left but he’s never jumped that badly left. It’s the first time he’s went that badly left going right-handed.

“If you could just iron them out he has some ability, some engine.

“Harry Cobden set off at a good pace there and I sat third but by the time we jumped the second fence I was upsides Harry, he has such a long stride it takes him there.

“He’s still a baby and when he got to the front he started pricking his ears and looking round him. When he grows up he’ll be a good horse!”

The success was number 200 of the season for Mullins.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of the runner-up Only By Night, also achieved a significant milestone as he surpassed the two million euro mark for prize-money.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)