Upsie (right) beats stablemate Urticaire© Photo Healy Racing
< Upsie reigned supreme in the feature punchestown.com Mares Hurdle and it was a one-two for champion trainer Willie Mullins.
The 5-4 favourite was out to regain the winning thread following a lacklustre Naas performance and she was given a confident ride from Ruby Walsh.< Urticaire appeared to get first run when the pair turned for home, but the JP McManus-owned mare jumped to the front at the last and went away to win by a length and a half.< Dromnea (8-1) put his experience to good use in the Festival Party Pack From 21 Euros Maiden Hurdle and stayed on well to thwart the late challenge of Blow The Doors Off by a fast-diminishing neck.
Mouse Morris' charge finished second to the subsequent Cheltenham Grade Two runner-up Rathvinden at Cork in December and he opened his account under a positive Mark Enright ride.
The INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle offered up what looked a good opportunity for Noble Endeavor (6-4 favourite) to break his duck over timber and the Leopardstown bumper winner delivered the goods.
The Gordon Elliott-trained, Robbie Colgan-ridden five-year-old displayed a useful turn of foot to beat Ttebbob by a length and three-quarters.< Duty Dance defied odds of 16-1 in a competitive Festival Free Upgrade Offer Ends Today Handicap Hurdle.
Danny Howard's charge displayed her battling qualities when hitting the front under her trainer/jockey, and she scored by a length and a half from Sarah Battle
Another maiden was broken in the Festival Any Day Flexi Ticket Mares Maiden Hurdle and it was Rock's Field (9-1) who graced the winning enclosure.
The five-year-old scooted clear off the home bend before registering a two-and-a-quarter-length win for Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper.< Tipped Up Harry (7-1) scored in the Festival Hospitality From 99 Euros Handicap Hurdle, while What Lies Ahead justified 4-5 favouritism in the Family Saturday At The Festival Flat Race.
