Review PUNCHESTOWN 2ND FEB

Moscow Flyer and Kicking King provided Barry Geraghty with a big race double when successfully advertising their Cheltenham Festival credentials.

Moscow Flyer maintained his position at the head of the Queen Mother Champion Chase market by easily landing odds of 2/7 in the Tied Cottage Chase.

Geraghty sent the 9yo to the front five out in the 2m event and, despite a mistake at the final fence, easily beat Copernicus by 9L with Commanche Court staying on well 4L back in third.

'He's in great form, and the mistake at the last was just down to concentration. Hopefully it will have taught him something,' said trainer Jessica Harrington.

Geraghty had Kicking King up with the pace throughout in the Byrne Group Novice Hurdle, and the 5yo kept on best in the straight to beat Central House by 4L.

'I'm very pleased he's done that on ground he wouldn't like, and he jumped quicker today when he had to. I also liked the way he galloped all the way to the line,' said Tom Taaffe.

The locally based trainer confirmed his charge for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and Cashmans reacted to the win by cutting his price from 40/1 to 20/1.

Masteroffoxhounds, well beaten when pulled up before the final hurdle, was found to be lame on his off fore post-race.

The 4m Chase at the Festival is a likely target for Hedgehunter who made all under Sam Curling for an unchallenged win in the Grand National Trial.

'He will be entered for the Aintree National but I doubt whether he will get in, and the four miler at Cheltenham has always been in our mind,' said Willie Mullins.

Timmy Murphy adopted front-running tactics on favourite Safe Route in the opening maiden hurdle, and Willie Austin's charge kept on well to beat Kahrena by 2L.

Camden Venture took advantage of the last fence fall of Schwartzhalle to land the 2m4f handicap chase, while Keepatem caught Poker Pal in the final stride of the 3m handicap hurdle.

Favourite backers in the bumper suffered a similar fate as Accordion Etoile (3/1-9/4) was touched off by the Jamie Codd-ridden Zum See.