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Review PUNCHESTOWN 25TH APR

Newmill emulated such great names as Klairon Davis and Flagship Uberalles by adding the Kerrygold Champion Chase to his Queen Mother Champion Chase win.

As he had done six weeks previously, John Murphy's charge galloped his rivals into submission but this time he had to overcome some scares in the jumping stakes.

He made three significant mistakes, at the second, five out and three out but he drew clear soon afterwards under Andrew McNamara for an easy 15L win over Fota Island.

McNamara was obviously impressed, saying, 'he did it very well, he was sticky at a few but he has got a fierce engine.'

Murphy meanwhile ruled out a run on Friday in the Champion Hurdle, the Norwich gelding now ready to commence his summer break.

Iktitaf, second choice in the betting from a trio of Noel Meade runners, put up a highly impressive display in the VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

A progressive sort, this ex-John Gosden inmate had been absent since cutting his near fore leg when a beaten favourite behind Mounthenry at this course in early February.

Here after travelling strongly throughout, the 8/1 shot made his move two out behind the heavily-backed Straw Bear (5/4 in the morning into 8/11).

Taking over before the last, he was soon ridden clear to record an eased-down 7L success. It would be difficult to disagree with Noel Meade's assessment, 'I think he is a star.'

Ruby Walsh summed up the display by saying, 'he loved the ground and he jumped like a stag.' This event saw the brief return to the saddle of Paul Carberry.

He rode the disappointing sixth-placed Sweet Wake but he will miss the rest of the Festival as an ankle injury picked-up in a fall from Sir Oj in the Aintree Grand National has not cleared up.

Despite conceding weight all-around in the Grade 2 Novice Chase, Missed That came back to his best, leading before the last and stretching away on the run-in for a 5L win.

David Casey was back aboard the 7yo for this step-up to 2m 5f whilst Ruby Walsh was on the other Willie Mullins-trained runner, third-placed Our Ben.

Mullins described the French Champion Hurdle as a possible option for Missed That now. Of course Nobody Told Me won that event for the stable in the past.

A 104/1 double for Archie O'Leary and Willie Mullins was completed thirty five minutes later when the Closutton outfit sent out a one-two in the 2m 4f h'cap hurdle.

Richie Kiely rode the eighth and most important winner of his career when his mount, Joueur D'Estruval beat off the top-weight, Adamant Approach by 2L.

On a memorable day for Willie Mullins, an 839/1 treble was brought up in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper when Katie Walsh made every post a winning one on Glencove Marina.

John Brennan's son of Spectrum was one of only two previous winners in the twenty three strong event and he kept up a relentless gallop to beat Powerberry by 2 1/2L.

Beaten favourite in the event last year, Abram's Bridge again topped the market for the Ladies Cup but this time around he justified that position under John Thomas McNamara.

A quick effort at the last under the all-time record-breaking point-to-point winning jockey was crucial, in the 3/4L win over the well-backed Wonderkid (morning price 7s into 9/2).

The J P McManus-owned Enda Bolger-trained victor was one of fifteen finishers from twenty four participants over the cross-country course.

Wills Wilde became the first horse to record wins at both spring Festivals this year, following up his Fairyhouse victory from just a week ago off an 8Ib higher mark.

Making it three on the bounce for Pat Fahy and Adrian Lane, Wills Wilde beat Guilt by 2L. Commonchero was almost brought down at the third and he was pulled up after the fifth.

Cleni Boy sent favourite backers home happy, completing a double for Noel Meade by running away with the bumper with Nina Carberry in the saddle.