Joystick held the late challenge of Honesty Policy to give Willie Mullins a hat-trick on the card at Naas this afternoon.

Paul Townend, bagging a double for himself, made virtually all on the 5/6 favourite and asked him for an effort after the second last flight.

The Coastal Path gelding had a couple of lengths advantage over the last but the margin was reduced late on as Honesty Policy stuck on to get within half-a-length.

Joystick had been fourth on his return to action at Punchestown last month.

Mullins said:- “He’s a nice jumper and a real nice galloper.

“I think he wants a longer trip but on that ground, he was well able to keep up a good pace the whole way. Stamina was coming into play in those conditions.

“He’s a horse that you would be looking forward to going chasing with next season.

“I’d say he will go up in trip as the ground gets drier over the rest of the season.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)