Fountain House repeated last year’s victory in the Ladies Cup, over the banks, at Punchestown in highly impressive fashion.

Rob James gave the 9/4 favourite (evens in morning) a confident ride as he produced him on the bridle to lead going to the second last.

The Ian McCarthy-trained gelding skipped clear before the final fence as he stormed to a 39 length success in the festival opener.

It was a fourth success of the season for the Lucky Speed gelding who had landed a hat-trick of point-to-point wins already this year.

"It was the plan all year to come here and it has worked out. I didn't think he'd do it that easy but he is a proper horse and we've had great fun along the way with him,” said McCarthy.

"He is a family-owned horse, we own him ourselves and unfortunately his regular rider Eoin Mahon was injured today.

“It was also Eoin that advised me to buy him and the horse hasn't looked back since then. I'm mainly into breaking and pre-training but keep a couple of these for the enjoyment. 

"We'll get him home now and hopefully we might run him again on Friday or Saturday. 

"Next year, for sure and following that performance today, we'll look at the La Touche back here. I think he is really coming into his own now and that is as good a performance as he has done."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)