Min and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
< Min added his name to an illustrious roll of honour for the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle with an imperious triumph at Punchestown.
Stablemates Vautour and Douvan have won this Grade Two prize en route to Supreme Novices' Hurdle glory, and Min tightened his grip on favouritism for the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser following this nine-and-a-half-length victory.
Ruby Walsh was allowed an uncontested lead for much of the journey and hardly let out an inch of rein, but the 1-7 favourite still coasted home clear of Attribution with his head in his chest.
Class told in the sportinglife.com Beginners Chase as Measureofmydreams (11-8 favourite) made a successful start to his career over fences.
The eight-year-old kept good company over hurdles and although he got in close to a couple of obstacles, he found more than Mr Diablo after jumping the last just in front and crossed the line with two and a quarter lengths in hand.
Baie Des Isles wore down Unic De Bersy to lift the Connolly's Red Mills Amateur National For The Conyngham Cup (Q.R.) Handicap Chase.
Nina Carberry had the runner-up at the head of affairs and appeared to have stolen a winning march swinging in, but Derek O'Connor went in pursuit on the 9-2 winner, who got her head in front in the dying strides.< Lift The Latch (100-30) set sail for home before the turn in the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Maiden Hurdle and never looked like being caught, passing the post with a six-and-a-half-length advantage over Indian Court < Flemenstorm (3-1 favourite) continued his progression with victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, while Elusive Ivy took the Ronan Doyle Happy 50th Birthday Mares Handicap Hurdle.
One-time exciting prospect Diamond King lost his way a bit in Britain but put in a couple of encouraging efforts since joining Gordon Elliott and built on them to land the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Rated Hurdle as the 6-5 favourite.
