One of Tom Mullins' first reactions to his success with Alderwood in the preceding event was "what a trainer" and Philip Hobbs would have been well justified in saying the same thing after his Snap Tie shrugged aside a 921 day absence under top-weight in the Boylesports.com "Official Betting Partner To The Irish Soccer Team" Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

It could have been different if the sweet-travelling Ceol Rua hadn't come down on the level before the straight but Snap Tie then had to see-off the strong-moving Benash Richard Johnson's mount got the final flight 'wrong' but to his great credit he picked up again to win by two lengths.

Hobbs said: "After he won his novice chase at Cheltenham he had a suspensory problem and when he went back to Cheltenham last season he suffered a reoccurrence.

"For him to do that after two and a half years off is amazing – he's some horse.

"He's come down in the handicap but he is a ten-year-old now. He doesn't go on soft ground either so it's staggering.

"It's difficult to know what route to take with him now. He wouldn't be a summer horse but we could look at something like the Swinton Hurdle for him."

The Stewards enquired into an incident on the turn for home involving Snap Tie, ridden by R Johnson, Citzenship (GB) ridden by R M Power and Ceol Rua, ridden by R Walsh, where Ceol Rua fell on the flat. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. R Walsh stated that his mount drifted onto the heels of Snap Tie and came down.

Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that the incident was accidental and took no further action. $Z

(GC & EM)