The Jessica Harrington trained Pigeon House paid a further compliment to the form of the Boodles Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham when keeping on in determined fashion to win the opening Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle on day three of the Punchestown Festival.

Last seen when finishing 9th of 22 on his handicap debut in the aforementioned juvenile contest at Cheltenham, the Saxon Warrior gelding looked a different horse this afternoon, always travelling well just off the pace. Clever Currency made much of the early running but was headed by Whiskeywealth half-way down the back straight. Winning jockey Nico de Boinville had Pigeon House in the chasing group throughout, getting a nice tow into the race.

Moving up to challenge turning for home, de Boinville led approaching the second last. The eventual winner then faced a late challenge from Killeemore Lad but held on to gain a comfortable half-length success.

Joint favourite Nara kept on nicely from out of the pack to get up for third. Henry De Bromhead's filly had also run in the Boodles, where she finished seventh.

“Finally, he did it at the right time anyway,” said Harrington.

“Nico gave him a great ride, and he dropped his stick after the last so he never even hit him.

“We'll go to the Flat with him now, he's in a mile-and-six handicap at Gowran next week.

“He's been threatening to do that all winter. He probably liked that better ground, although he wasn't quick enough on it back in the autumn.

“He's got much stronger, he is only four still. Galway could be on our mind as well.

“We gave him a good break after Cheltenham, freshened him up, and he's really loved it.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.