Review punchestown 23rd Apr

< Hurricane Fly salvaged an injury-hit season with a narrow victory in a pulsating finish to the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins' charge travelled sweetly throughout for Paul Townend and seemed to have the prize in the bag as he cruised up to challenge approaching the final flight.

But Solwhit proved a doughty competitor and looked for a moment as though he would hold on as they battled up the run-in, before Hurricane Fly (3-1) edged in front close home for a neck victory, with the winner's stablemate Thousand Stars a further two lengths back in third.

Reve De Sivola arrived late on the scene to grab the other Grade One contest, the Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle, for the Nick Williams team.

The five-year-old didn't have the best of runs and had plenty to do approaching the second-last as Fionnegas and Duke Of Lucca fought out their own battle up front.

But Daryl Jacob got the 9-4 favourite into a powerful stride and he surged past on the run-in to score by a length.< Chasing Cars set off in front under Robbie Power in the valuable Motivatechallenge.com Novice Handicap Chase and nothing could get to grips with Jessica Harrington's eight-year-old.< Lucky Wish and Otay Kawn had him in their sights turning for home, but had to settle for the places as the 10-1 chance kept up the gallop all the way to land his first victory over the bigger obstacles by 10 lengths.

Willie Mullins is having a great meeting and he notched up a treble begun by Palace Merano who needed every yard of the marathon three-and-three-quarter-mile trip of the Stephens Green Hibernian Club Handicap Chase.

Davy Condon still had plenty to do on the 25-1 shot with two to jump, but he stayed on in game style to grab long-time leader Ameretto Son at the final fence and score by a length and three-quarters.

Mullins' Arvika Ligeonniere (3-1 favourite) found it somewhat easier in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle, leading approaching the final flight and clearing right away under Townend to score