Saint Sam made a successful switch back to the smaller obstacles when taking the Tote Proudly Sponsoring At Punchestown Hurdle in decisive fashion.

Available at 4/1 overnight, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding was heavily supported to go off the evens favourite and didn’t give his backers any worries.

Paul Townend elected to make the running on the five-year-old who won over fences last term and was also placed in Grade 1 company.

He asserted early in the straight and was in command from before the last to score by six and a half lengths. Any Second Now placed in the last two runnings of the Grand National, made a pleasing return staying on to take second with Run For Oscar half a length further back in third.

Mullins said, “We decided to come back over hurdles with him and it might be the right thing to do going out in trip with him. He likes to get on with the job so Paul let him get on with it today.

“He put in some tremendous jumps and I think if he settles a little better over hurdles that might be his career for the near future. Otherwise I’ll mix it with him over fences.

“I want to get him out in trip. He’s bred to stay further but he races a bit keenly. I think he’ll settle down once he gets used to racing over a longer trip.”