< Arvika Ligeonniere recorded a bloodless victory in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase after stable companion Sir Des Champs crashed out of the race in a third-fence fall.

The two Willie Mullins-trained runners were expected to hold too many guns for only rival Rubi Light and they were sharing the lead in the early stages when the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up exited the Grade One contest.

Ruby Walsh led for the rest of the way on Arvika Ligeonniere (4-7 favourite), who had Rubi Light in trouble on the turn into the straight and was never threatened in winning by nine lengths in a race diminished by the absence of Flemenstar.

Charlie Swan's four-year-old The Game Changer (4-1) could hardly have been more impressive as he sauntered away with the www.punchestown.com Rated Novice Hurdle in the hands of Davy Russell.

Third behind Ange Balafre last time, the gelding had no trouble reversing the form, travelling powerfully into contention rounding the home turn and popping the last before beating favourite Clonard Lad by two and a quarter lengths.

Russell was stood down after his fall on Sir Des Champs and missed the winning ride on Bright New Dawn in the Setanta Sports 1Euro Offer Beginners Chase, Bryan Cooper stepping in on the highly promising six-year-old.

Sent off the 5-4 favourite, Dessie Hughes's rising star led all the way and pulled out the stops on the run-in to hold the strong challenge of market rival Dogora who was receiving 12lb, by half a length.

Hughes and Cooper also scored with Apache Jack (5-4 favourite), a full brother to prolific winner Black Jack Ketchum, who cleared away between the last two flights to take the 2014 Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle by 12 lengths.

The trainer-jockey combination looked sure to complete a treble when Canaly jumped the last clear in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Handicap Chase, but Walsh conjured a remarkable late surge from Robert Tyner's 5-2 favourite Daring Article and got up by a head in the shadow of the post.