Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
The battle of the former champion hurdlers proved every bit as good as hoped, as Jezki came out on top over old foe Hurricane Fly in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown.
Both horses were trying three miles for the first time and their class told as they pulled clear before the last.
Jessie Harrington's Jezki (5-2) always appeared to be travelling the stronger, though, and he kept up a clear advantage on the run-in to beat his old rival by a length and three-quarters, completing a double for jockey Mark Walsh.
Walsh's double started when Philip Dempsey's Jacksonslady (10-1) ran out a game winner of the Three.ie Handicap Chase.
Willie Mullins may have suffered defeat with Hurricane Fly, but he weighed in with a fantastic five-timer, featuring Un De Sceaux s all-the-way win in the Ryanair Novice Chase.
Ruby Walsh was never flustered on the 1-10 favourite, and after pinging the last fence, he edged away to beat Just Cameron by three lengths.
The evergreen Uncle Junior (6-1) produced a battling performance to run out a game winner of the FBD Cross Country Chase for the La Touche Cup.
Willie Mullins' 14-year-old was neck and neck with market leader Quantitativeeasing all the way up the straight, but the veteran found just enough under Patrick Mullins to edge out the favourite by a neck.
Mullins' second win came when Avant Tout (20-1) stayed on well to land the Donohue Marquees Handicap Hurdle under Danny Mullins.
Mullins made it four in the Orchid Transport Mares Novice Hurdle as the Paul Townend-ridden Whiteout (8-1) led home a one-two-three for the handler, ahead of Uranna and Lyrical Theatre
His fifth win came in easy fashion too, with Patrick Mullins again on the scoresheet as Yorkhill (5-4 favourite) landed the Kildare Post INH Flat Race.
David Mullins produced a strong late drive to get Bog War (5-2 favourite) home in the Murray Spelman Handicap Hurdle.
