Douvan and Ruby Walsh lead over the last© Photo Healy Racing
< Douvan could hardly have been more impressive as he sauntered to a scintillating success in the sportinglife.com Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old, facing a test of his Cheltenham Festival credentials, was settled in fourth place by a patient Ruby Walsh as Rock On The Moor took them along in the Grade Two contest.
He still held fourth spot over the second-last flight, but the 1-3 favourite was tanking along and he eased past to lead at the last before popping over it and beating Alpha Des Obeaux by three and three-quarter lengths without coming off the bridle.
There was another convincing success for the Mullins-Walsh partnership when 2-1 joint-favourite Jarry D'Honneur led just about all the way to take the Festival Hospitality From 99 Euros Beginners Chase by eight and a half lengths on his second Irish start.
Maurice Phelan's former Eider Chase hero Portrait King (6-1) needed all his undoubted stamina to win a dramatic running of the Connolly's Red Mills Amateur National (for the Conyngham Cup).
The 10-year-old looked to have no chance turning into the short straight in fifth place, but long-time leader Rogue Angel was out on his feet and with the rest struggling, Declan Queally got a great tune out of him as he surged past to win by five and a half lengths.
Pat Fahy's 9-2 shot Treacy's Star was pulled up at Tramore on New Year's Day but turned in a much better show in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, jumping ahead three out under Brian Hayes and running on well to score by six and a half lengths.
The Gillian Callaghan-trained Mount Corkish Girl (6-1) provided a welcome winner for Keith Donoghue as she strode clear to take the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Mares Maiden Hurdle by eight and a half lengths after Iamtoldiamgrand fell at the last.
Robbie Colgan landed a double in the last two races, taking the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Handicap Hurdle on Oliver McKiernan's Lean Araig (7-1) and the Punchestown Rated Hurdle on Gordon El
