Bundle Of Fun & Ruby Walsh were about the only bright spot for punters at Downpatrick© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins finally got a win out of Bundle Of Fun in the Now Your Talking EBF Beginners Chase at Downpatrick.
The 7/4 favourite, who has been expensive to follow since joining the champion trainer, took the lead on the run to the penultimate fence, where his task was made easier by the fall of Days Ahead and he wasn't hard pressed from that point to inflict a comprehensive defeat on Scholars Mate
Mullins had to settle for second when Shes Tensixtysix couldn't reel in Drumgooland in the Come Back And Visit Us INH Flat Race, while the Book Your Abba Christmas Party Handicap Chase went the way of Barnevelder < Musawama destroyed his rivals in the Join The Party Raceday Maiden Hurdle.
Having his first start for Denis Cullen, the 8/1 shot was given an enterprising ride by Barry Cash and had matters sewn up a long way from the finish, eventually coasting home 31 lengths ahead of Nell's Nan
There was a thrilling tussle for the Local Business Handicap Hurdle, with Fitzgutentyte and World Citizen going head to head from a long way out.
The former stuck to his guns really well, but couldn't quite match World Citizen (33/1), who responded to all of Jody McGarvey's urgings to prevail by three-quarters of a lengths.< North Star Lad derived enough benefit from his jumping introduction a couple of weeks ago to land the honours in the Prestige Catering Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meade's 16/1 chance jumped the last slightly slower than leader Pigeon Creek but quickened smartly after it to register a 13-length success.
Meade and Paul Carberry followed up when Dark Prospect (11/2) made a successful start to his career over fences in the www.downpatrickracecourse.co.uk Beginners Chase.
The seven-year-old took the last a couple of lengths adrift of market leader Clara More but Carberry was merely conserving his mount's energy and he surged down the home straight to collect the prize.
