Champion trainer Willie Mullins has his horses firing on all cylinders and continued his rich vein of form courtesy of a treble at Thurles on Thursday.

A heart-warming battle between Cheltenham Festival winners Champagne Fever and Lord Windermere got the pulse racing in the Listed Boomerang Animal Bedding And Boomerang Horse & Country Store Chase.

Mullins' gallant grey, the 11-8 second favourite, was returning from a 576-day absence under Ruby Walsh and barring a mistake at the top of the hill five out he was generally foot perfect.

He was made to work hard, though, as the former Mullins inmate Roi Des Francs and 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere, who ran a blinder for second, were still travelling well on the run for home.

Walsh sat pretty aboard the son of Stowaway and a good leap at the last helped as he held Jim Culloty's charge by a head.< Augusta Kate (2-9) was box office in the Sportsmens Mares Maiden Hurdle and she didn't disappoint, jumping well throughout on her hurdles/seasonal bow and quickening up nicely from the back of the last to score by three lengths from Ask Susan

Walsh kept it simple aboard Bellow Mome (2-1), who disputed the lead in the Jim Murphy Contract Fence Builder Beginners Chase and had plenty in reserve.

In the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Rated Novice Hurdle it was all about Billy's Hope (7-2).

The fitting of a tongue tie has clearly worked the oracle as Jessica Harrington's mare out battled Dounikos for a one-and-a-half-length success under Robbie Power.< Catcheragain (7-1) landed the spoils in the Fogarty Concrete Novice Handicap Hurdle for Thomas Mullins and David Mullins, while it was Neddyvaughan (11-2) who got off the mark at the 15th attempt for Christy Roche and Mark Walsh in the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle.

In the Richard Brennan Fencing Services Flat Race, Gordon Elliot's Woods Well (3-1 joint-favourite) put his experience to good use under 7lb claimer Luke McGuinness to score by four lengths from Willie Mullins' newcomer Sharps Choice