Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner Dunguib maintained his unbeaten start to his hurdling career with the minimum of fuss at Punchestown.
Trainer Philip Fenton had originally mentioned a racecourse gallop to tune him up for his first major target, the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse on November 29, but the heavy recent rain put paid to that.
Instead he turned up in the Ballymaloe County Relish Hurdle and sent off the 2-13 favourite his amateur rider Brian O'Connell guided him to win without coming off the bridle.
Fenton said: "That was grand. He wasn't really concentrating over the first two and he learned more today.
"He jumped with enthusiasm. We'll find out more in the Royal Bond.
"The ground out there was loose rather than tacky which was OK. Roll on Fairyhouse."
Willie Mullins had a short-price double with two promising sorts obliging.< Quel Esprit fourth behind Dunguib at Cheltenham, scored on his hurdling debut in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Sent off the 4-9 favourite to make his hurdling debut a winning one, Paul Townend had to get pretty serious after the last to keep him up to his work but he won by a length and three-quarters.
Mullins said: "He is a natural jumper. I'd imagine he'll be a two-and-a-half-miler for the rest of the season.
"He is in the Royal Bond but he won't go there unless it is really heavy.
"He'll more likely go for the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial at Navan."< The Biscuit Club (4-9 favourite), second in the corresponding Star Of Tomorrow Flat Race 12 months ago, went one better under Patrick Mullins.
His father said: "I was giving it out to Patrick for leaving it too late on him in this race last year when he was second to Dunguib but we've all seen how he's turned out.
"This fellow did it nicely there, he handles the ground and he is a big chasing sort."
