Unanswered makes it three in a row

In-form Unanswered came home very strongly to take the first division of the handicap hurdle at Punchestown for horses rated 80-95 who hadn't been in the first three in their latest run in a hurdle race.

Previous hurdling efforts had been uninspiring, however, a recent pair of victories on the Flat had clearly reinvigorated him for this game.

The 3/1 co favourite was niggled along by Bryan Cooper after the third last and began to make headway from mid-division after two out.

He really caught the eye as he closed on the outer in the straight and he then hit the front in jumping the last.

He scooted right away in the final 150 yards to win by a more than healthy eight and a half lengths. Muntahez ran well in second at 33/1. He's Leading Me On (33/1) and Miala Araya (50/1) finished third and fourth respectively.

Trainer Tony Martin said: “He’s a galloper and it took him time to get going, same as the Flat.

“He does his best work in the last couple of furlongs. He’s bred to barely get it but he did finish out real well.

“They really quickened down the back and just caught him a bit flat-footed.

“His strong point was his jumping which was excellent. He’ll mix it and hopefully we can keep him in the one piece.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee