Alelchi Inois and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins-trained Alelchi Inois made it five straight victories over fences with an effortless win in the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown.
It looked a straight forward task for the 3/10 favourite on paper and so it proved as he made all under Ruby Walsh.
The French-bred gelding kicked on after the third last and barely broke sweat to record a six-length success in the 2m2f Grade 3 event.
English raider August Hill battled on to claim the runner-up spot after a tussle with Arzembouy Premier on the run-in.
"He enjoys this ground and we'll campaign him as long as we have it. He's versatile trip wise and jumps well,” said Mullins.
"I'll probably give him a mid-season break and bring him back for the spring. I don't know how good he is, and whether he's good enough to move up another Grade or two."
Walsh added: “He's quite ground dependent, he likes that good ground. Even though he's a big horse his pedigree is predominantly flat.
“He's done it well but when Benemeade and Blacklough came out it got a lot easier.
“You can get carried away with horses at this time of year because you are wanting the jump season to start and see good horses.
“They are what they were over hurdles and that's what they'll be over fences too.”
The race cut up to just four runners with Benemeade and Blacklough taken out. Their absence led to a collapse in the price of the winner.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
