It proved plain sailing for hotpot Bachasson as he recorded an easy win in the conditions hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

Paul Townend popped out in front on the 30/100 shot and he stretched away from his rivals jumping the second last in the two-mile-three contest.

The grey got a bit close to the last but the result never looked in doubt as he cantered to a comprehensive six-and-a-half length victory over stable-mate Scarpeta

Bachasson was repeating his 2018 in the same race and made it four wins in a row in the contest for trainer Willie Mullins.

Mullins said:- “I was hoping he’d jump a bit better but Paul said he was just idle out in front on his own.

“We’ll mix it between hurdles and fences for the rest of the season, and we’ll probably keep him down the country over fences.

“He’s not a big horse but it’s the size of the heart that counts and not the size of the horse.

“He’s been a good servant but the O’Connell’s have been lucky owners over the years.

“Scarpeta improved from his last run so he might be coming back to himself.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)