Review punchestown 30th Jan

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend were kings of Punchestown, with five winners for the County Carlow handler, four of them ridden by Townend.< Golden Silver made it fifth time lucky as he finally got the better of old foe Big Zeb to land the boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase.

Big Zeb had got the better of their previous four encounters, and jumped well for Barry Geraghty, edging into the lead after the third last.

Golden Silver (3-1) appeared to be toiling at that stage under Townend, but he picked up takingly on the home straight and after nudging upsides at the last, he went on to score by half a length.

Mullins and Townend won their second race when Some Target landed the Association Of Irish Racehorse Owners Grand National Trial Handicap Chase.< Noble Concorde swept to the front three out in the three and a half-mile test, but Townend was motionless in second as they turned into the stright.

The 9-2 chance was forced to battle up the run-in, but he always looked to have matters in control before recording a two-length verdict.

Mullins' excellent day continued when Gagewell Flyer headed a 1-2 for the trainer in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

After making all the running, Townend looked to have the treble in the bag when the 13-8 favourite scooted clear on the turn for home, but stablemate Earlson Grey charged home and was only a neck down at the line.

The four-timer for Mullins and Townend came in the following race, the Mianach Venture Capital Maiden Hurdle, as Raptor (2-1) finished three lengths clear of Westmeath

The final winner for Mullins came as Celtic Folklore (9-2) waltzed home to land the Rockview (Q.R.) INH Flat Race under Patrick Mullins.

Robert Tyner and Philip Enright managed to break Mullins' and Townend's stranglehold on the meeting as Square Sphere (10-1) found more on the run-in to beat Rivage D'Or in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.