Golden moment for Silver in Champion Chase

Golden Silver proved the star in a fantastic Grade One treble for Willie Mullins when running out a classy winner of the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown.

Mullins and Paul Townend, successful earlier with Blackstairmountain in the Champion Novice, teamed up again to claim the feature contest.

The Champion trainer went on to complete his hat-trick when the Tony McCoy ridden Kempes took the Champion Novice Chase 35 minutes later.

Golden Silver travelled well into contention down the straight in the two-miler and improved to dispute at the final fence.

Long-time leader Sizing Europe was untidy as he was pressed by the eventual winner and the hard-ridden Forpadydeplasterer

Townend's mount asserted on the run-in to record a two-and-a-half length win from perpetual bridesmaid Forpadydeplasterer with Sizing Europe third.

"Unfortunately Mr and Mrs O'Leary couldn't be here because of a family bereavement. Mrs O'Leary's brother died so condolences to them," said Mullins.

"He just keeps improving. We decided to change the tactics and wait a bit longer with him rather than force the pace. It paid off.

"We thought after Cheltenham that we made too much use of him so we decided to see if his class would come through and it did. He's really enjoying his racing.

"Scotsirish was a bit unlucky after making a mistake two out. It was a good effort considering he carried top-weight in the Topham at Aintree last time.

"Barker was also a bit unlucky to get a fall as he was running a good race."

Barry Geraghty was delighted with the effort of runner-up Forpadydeplasterer :-"He ran a great race but I'd say Aintree and Cheltenham have taken their toll."

"He ran a cracker and is a genuine horse. I just said to the lads when I came in thats I wouldn't question his attitude - he is as game as a lion and gave me loads."

Henry De Bromhead, trainer of Sizing Europe, said :-"During the race there was no pace - they crawled. You would think in a two-mile Champion Chase they would go flat out but this is typical of Ireland.

"There was no gallop and we had to do all the donkey work. There you go. It just didn't happen for us today." Twist Magic planted himself at the start and refused to race. Boylesports and Paddy Power both gave money back on Paul Nicholls' charge.

The crowd was down 2,147 from last year's figure with 14,177 through the gates as opposed to 16,324.

Punchestown said the absence of English customers had accounted for around 3,500.

"Tuesday is traditionally our visitors day. We have a reciprocal programme with 13 tracks in England as well as hospitality and general ticket sales," said Punchestown PR Manager Shona Dreaper.