Review punchestown 17th May

< Townshend (5-4 favourite) swiftly banished the memories of a recent fall with an accomplished round of jumping to land the La Touche Restaurant Novice Chase.

Ruby Walsh was happy to bowl along at the head of affairs, though Three Wise Men kept him company throughout the early stages.

Townshend had fallen at the Festival here the time before but it was his pacesetting rival who came to grief two from home, allowing Willie Mullins' market leader to coast home seven lengths clear of Potters Point < Delta Work ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Kildare Hunt Club Maiden Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott's 10-11 favourite streaked past nearest market rival Herminio before the turn for home under Bryan Cooper, and cantered to a 20-length success over Sea Bank < Caolaneoin may be firmly in the veteran stage these days, but it didn't stop the 11-year-old battling to victory in the Panoramic Restaurant Handicap Chase.

After taking up the running before the home turn under Robbie Colgan, the 8-1 chance appeared to be losing out in a thrilling head-to-head battle with Shadow Catcher on the home straight.

Caolaneoin just found enough in the dying strides to get back up and after the pair flashed past the post as one, it was Shane Nolan's charge who got the verdict by a nose.

A loose horse almost caused problems for Icantsay in the closing stages of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF, but he managed to avoid the trouble and score.< Courtncatcher jumped the second last in front, but Danny Mullins had hit top gear on John Ryan's 12-1 chance and after taking evasive action to avoid a loose horse, he strode on strongly to score by eight and a half lengths.

The Mark Fahey-trained Tourboy caused an upset in the Punchestown For Events Maiden Hurdle, the 33-1 chance coming home comfortably clear of more fancied rivals under Ian McCarthy.