Powerful repelled the raiders in the Albert Bartlett Series Final Handicap Hurdle to land the lion’s share of the €100,000 pot.

The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding lived up to his name when travelling strongly to lead after the second last in the two-mile-three contest for Simon Torrens.

JP McManus’s gelding had to dig deep as English challengers Daylatedollarshort and Moab stayed on to press in the closing stages but had enough up his sleeve to record a half-length win.

"He is a lovely horse and we had this race in mind since he won the qualifier here last November. He had a lot of weight on his back but is a very big horse and still did it,” said Harrington.

"He a gentle giant and being a five-year-old, he could go chasing next year but I don't know yet. 

"He slightly struggled on heavy ground but loves that good ground and jumped really well.

“We have one (Punchestown winner) on the board which is great, as I don't have that many national hunt horses now."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)