Townshend justified favouritism in the opener at Punchestown, the La Touche Restaurant Novice Chase.

Second to Ballyoisin on his debut over fences at Fairyhouse in January, the Willie Mullins trained six-year-old was an easy winner on his next outing at Naas.

He fell on his most recent start when tried in Grade 1 company in the Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Sent off the 5/4 market leader today, he led and disputed under Ruby Walsh. He went into a definite lead from the fourth last, and asserted before the final fence, going on to score easily by seven lengths. Potters Point finished second under Bryan Cooper for Gordon Elliott at 11/4, while Definite Earl (25/1) was another four and a half lengths back in third, with Robbie Colgan in the plate for David Broad. Three Wise Men (5/2) was pushed along in second when he crashed out two fences from home.

Willie Mullins said afterwards: "He jumped well and did it well, obviously it didn't shake his confidence when he fell here at the festival.

"We'll probably just keep to more of the same with him. I don't know whether there is much around for him to aim for.

"He's a novice till December we'll see where we go. Galway is sort of the target with all these horses."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson