Review punchestown 2nd May

< Jezki lit up another amazing day for Jessie Harrington as he stamped his class on the Racing Post Champion Hurdle at Punchestown to complete a treble for the yard.

Something of a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Jezki was sent off the 4-5 favourite and went straight to the front under Tony McCoy, but the pace was only a sedate one as he was tracked by Hurricane Fly in the three-horse field.

They quickened up in the second half of the race and Hurricane Fly tried to throw down a challenge going to the final flight, but he could not get on terms and Jezki ran on strongly to score by three and a quarter lengths.

Harrington, who also landed a treble on Thursday, continued the streak when Robbie Power got Operating (12-1) home three-quarters of a length in front of Road To Riches after the pair engaged in a lengthy duel in the Aon Novice Handicap Chase.

It was Power again in the seaniemac.com EBF Mares Handicap Chase as Burn And Turn (7-1), who travelled like a winner from some way out, in the end had to pull out the stops to beat the aptly named She's Got Grit by half a length.

Hurricane Fly may have been beaten, but Willie Mullins still landed a Grade One victory when Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour (1-3 favourite) led all the way in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle.

The display didn't have the brilliance of his Prestbury Park success and there was a moment going to the last when Apache Stronghold looked threatening, but Vautour pulled out enough for Ruby Walsh and won by three and a half lengths.

Mullins and Walsh doubled up when County Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire (4-5 favourite), set alight between the last two flights, surged away to take the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle by seven and a half lengths.

The trainer then completed a treble of his own when 100-30 favourite Morning Run ridden by his son Patrick, got the better of Carrigmoorna Rock by a length and a half in the ITBA Fillies Scheme Premier Bumper.