Salsify shrugged aside any notion that the ground would be against him as he cemented his position at the head of the hunter chasing tree when dishing out a comprehensive beating to his rivals in the Racing Post Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown.

The star hunter probably doesn't want it 'gluey or tacky' but it was 'loose' here and a lot of horses today were coming home well on the surface. Oscar Delta unlucky to have lost out when Salsify prevailed at Cheltenham, reserves his very best for 'across the water' and Jane Mangan never looked overly happy with him throughout this trip.

In contrast, Colman Sweeney was always 'sitting pretty' tucked-in behind on Salsify and he was going to win barring something untoward happening to him from a fair way out.

Outsider, Family Official ran a cracker from the front under Con McSweeney and he didn't deserve to fall at the last when well-beaten at the time by Salsify. The victor crossed the line thirty five lengths to the good from Oscar Delta.

Rodger Sweeney trains Salsify and he said: "The horse did the talking.

"He's grand in his own company. Like Fiery Oscar, the other side of Cashel!

"We'll see how he comes out of this – he likes Stratford (won there last year) and it's a handy bit of a pot." (GC & EM)