< Golden Silver put up a superb performance to land the feature Boylesports.com Champion Chase on a great day for the Willie Mullins team at the Punchestown Festival.

Paul Townend always looked to be going well on the eight-year-old, who put in a challenge along with Forpadydeplasterer as pacesetter Sizing Europe wilted at the final fence.

Golden Silver (12-1) soon powered clear to score by a comfortable two and a half lengths, while British challenger Twist Magic refused to race under Tony McCoy.

It was the middle leg of a big-race treble for Mullins, whose Blackstairmountain (5-1) was an impressive winner of the Grade One Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.

The five-year-old enjoyed running on the better ground after his Fairyhouse defeat on heavy, travelling sweetly for Townend and sweeping past stablemate Flat Out approaching the last to win by two and a half lengths.

The other Grade One race on the opening day, the Growise Champion Novice Chase, went to the Mullins-trained Kempes

Tony McCoy oozed confidence in the JP McManus colours and drew level with China Rock two out before clearing away on the 9-1 shot, who scored by three lengths, putting in good leaps to settle the issue.

There was a big prize on offer for the Goffs Land Rover Bumper and it went to Philip Rothwell's newcomer Divine Rhapsody under Mikey Fogarty.

A cheap purchase, the 33-1 shot looks to have a bright future after winning what is traditionally a pretty hot race in some style, powering away to score by three lengths despite wandering about a little.

Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh fought out a thrilling finish to the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase over the banks course after doing the same in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Walsh won there, but this time it was Carberry who prevailed as Enda Bolger's Zest For Life (9-2) held Wedger Pardy s treble bid by a length and a quarter after they were prominent all the way.

The Three.ie Handicap Hurdle went to Joanna Morgan's Jigalo (12-1), who led aft