< Min s authoritative victory in the Racing Post Novice Chase was the highlight of a treble for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh on the first day of Leopardstown's Christmas Festival.
Beaten only by Altior in the Supreme since arriving from France and impressive on his fencing bow at Navan, the 4-5 favourite faced a high-class rival in Identity Thief but Henry de Bromhead's charge didn't jump well at all and was pulled up before the race began in earnest.
In contrast, Min got from A to B with the minimum of fuss at the head of affairs and wasn't too hard pressed to dispose of Ordinary World by nine lengths.
The Mullins-trained Bapaume avenged his Fairyhouse defeat at the hands of Landofhopeandglory in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.
Landofhopeandglory arrived at this Grade Two unbeaten in three NH starts and beat Bapaume by a length in a Grade Three, but 13-8 favourite Bapaume knuckled down really well for Walsh to turn the tables, triumphing by a length and three-quarters.
His stablemate Bunk Off Early (7-4 favourite) was a decent handicapper at around a mile on the level for Andy Oliver but looks set to be a much better jumper judging by the way he disposed of a big field in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Maiden Hurdle.< Joey Sasa made it third-time lucky over timber in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meade's 3-1 chance, who was a beaten favourite at Navan just over a week ago, showed no ill effects from those exertions and picked up Barra at the last en route to a two-and-a-quarter-length success.< Concordin (5-1) nailed Artful Artist by a head in the Cardinal Capital Handicap Hurdle, while Lake Takapuna (6-1) survived a stewards' inquiry to take the 'Bet Through The Racing Post App' Handicap Chase and Aeglos (8-1) landed the Lep Inn Flat Race.
