Beau Michael continued his rapid rate of progression making all to capture the featured Grade 3 Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle.

Jumping well under Davy Russell, the 7/2 second fav found plenty under pressure from before the last to beat Personal Column by 2L.

Successful trainer Ado McGuinness suggested, 'he has improved again as I was a little worried about the ground but he handled it well.

'Davy said he had a little bit left in the tank and we will give him a breather now and then go to Cheltenham or Aintree.'

Russell later gained a second winner on The Gloves Are Off for Mouse Morris in division two of the maiden hurdle.

As was the case with Clarified, half-an-hour earlier, this Gigginstown House Stud-owned Oscar gelding began his career 'between the flags' (won at Lemonfield).

Here he passed the odds-on favourite, pace-setting, Shady Willow, before the last, going on to put 7L between himself and that one at the line.

Morris remarked, 'he did it well and he'll win a winners of 1. He'd probably want better ground and it will take another year for him to fill out.'

Of course Conor O'Dwyer sported the silks of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown when putting in a fabulous display to win the 2006 Gold Cup on War Of Attrition.

Another milestone in the Wexford man's life was achieved when Hangover, in the same colours, credited him with an initial victory as a trainer in the bumper.

By the same sire as War Of Attrition, Presenting, Hangover got the better of a battle with Captain Conflict, prevailing by 1/2L in the hands of Padraig Roche.

As a son of a Prix Royal Oak winner in the shape of Ebadiyla, Ebaziyan saw out the 2m 4f distance on his 2nd attempt at the trip to take the opener.

Siegemaster's defection left the Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero a 2/5 shot to beat 13 clearly inferior rivals, and he duly out-pointed the game Sabina Park by 1 3/4L.

Willie Mullins was relieved afterwards saying, 'he doesn't like that gluey ground and I'm glad to get that win with him.

'It could be his only one of the season as it will be Grade 1s from now on, the AIG, the Champion at Cheltenham and back here for the Festival.'

There were those that thought the connections of last Sunday's big winner, Venalmar, would be in the winner's enclosure again, courtesy of Is He Serious in the 2.05.

Backed from a morning price of 20/1 into 6/1 joint fav, he could manage no better than 17th. Fellow market-leader, Here Comes Sally gained the day here.

With Alain Cawley up for the Blackhall Stud team of the Pierce family, this mare led before the straight and stayed on well to defeat Knock On The Head by 4L.

Andrew Pierce, son and namesake of the winning owner and brother of the trainer, Paul, forecast, 'she will go chasing soon as she jumps great.'

Clarified split two nice sorts in Scavenger and The Sherrif when 2nd in his point-to-point but three 'noughts' on the racecourse proper made him a 16/1 shot for the 2.35.

However that didn't stop Paul Carberry getting to the front on the Tony Martin-trained Accordion gelding before the last, soon clear to triumph by an easy 5 1/2L.

Martin described his charge as a nice horse before adding, 'he ran quite well the last day (at the Leopardstown Festival) and we'll find a winners race for him now.'