Ruby Walsh dictated things to a nicety from the front on Haymount (6/1) and that approach took the strong chestnut all the way to a three and a half length win in the Gain Support Laois GAA Beginners Chase. The win brought up a Punchestown double for Walsh and Willie Mullins.

In the same ownership Bishopsfurze often gave cause for alarm in his jumping career, but Haymount was assured on his first pop over fences and he asserted between the last two to beat Coney Island and Mall Dini by three and a half lengths and a short head.

Half-an-hour previous on the mark with Let's Dance Mullins commented on the Claire Hurley owned and bred Haymount: "We knew he was stronger but he's improved way more than we anticipated. There was no fluke there as he jumped from fence to fence and loved it.

"We’ll probably have to enter him in the top races now, and he's every inch a chaser to look at. He went three miles over hurdles but ran too free, so we may stick to around that trip."

(AM & EM)