Isle on the up at the age of ten

Willie Mullins' market-leader The Crafty Butcher came to grief five out in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) but the champion trainer still landed the spoils courtesy of the lightly-weighted Isleofhopendreams at Punchestown.

The Crafty Butcher's fall also took Woodford Island out of the reckoning. The latter's stable companion at the Gordon Elliott yard, Sutton Manor then shaped like he might be the one when going for home under Rachael Blackmore in the straight.

However Danny Mullins soon had them in his sights on Isleofhopendreams.

He explained: "I was in a bit of a pocket and I knew coming to the bend that I'd lose too much ground going wide. So I had to take a little bit of a gamble but I knew I was travelling well enough when the gap appeared that I'd be able to go through.

"Down to the last then, he jumped it well and stuck his head out to the line. Even if something had come to me I'd be confident enough that he'd have pulled out a bit more."

In the end 11/2 second favourite Isleofhopendreams registered a two and a half length win over Sutton Manor.

Willie Mullins stated afterwards: "It was a very good performance and he is improving all the time. I'd imagine that he will go for the Final and he should get in now.

"An extra few furlongs wouldn't do him any harm, and I'd like soft ground for him."

M.A. Enright, rider of Argentino (FR) trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount pulled up injured.

(AM & EM)