< Apt Approach barely came off the bridle in taking the Easter Festival Maiden Hurdle for the in-form team of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

The 2-9 favourite had been off the track since finishing down the field in the Champion INH Flat Race behind stablemate Cousin Vinny at the Punchestown Festival last April.

He was always close to the pace for this hurdling introduction and drew clear from the second-last to score by 11 lengths from Askwith

Mullins said: "Ruby was very happy with him and he said you would not even think the ground was soft riding him as he handled it very well.

"We'll probably bring him back for a quick run and then go for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two novice hurdle here at the Easter Festival."

Mullins doubled up when Citizen Vic (9-10 favourite) took the bumper under his son Patrick.< Chevalier Country gave weight and a beating to each of his rivals in the Course Signage At Fairyhouse Hurdle.

The 4-7 market leader was sent straight to the head of affairs by Paddy Flood but looked a sitting duck when Street Legal loomed up on the turn for home.

However, Jim Gorman's charge responded to his rider's urgings all the way up the straight and stuck to his task well after jumping the final flight to score by a length and a quarter.< Checkpointcharlie ran out a wide-margin winner of the 20% Online Discount Beginners Chase for Charlie Swan.

Always travelling strongly, the 12-1 chance powered clear from two out to score by 14 lengths from Shesadoll

Swan said: "This was a bit of a surprise but it's great. He's been very babyish and we've done a lot of schooling with him.

"His three-parts brother Teeming Rain won the Devon National in England on Tuesday so it's great."

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