Review punchestown 6th May

< Hurricane Fly put up a superb performance as he blew his rivals away in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The 1-2 favourite, winner of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, was always travelling sweetly for Ruby Walsh as Tony McCoy reluctantly adopted the role of leader on Binocular < Menorah took over and made the best of his way home, but Hurricane Fly was cantering in behind and Willie Mullins' star coasted past on the run to the last flight before easing away to beat Thousand Stars by five lengths.

Spirit Of Adjisa put up a supremely gutsy show to take the Grade One Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle for the Tim Vaughan yard.

Richard Johnson set out to make all on the 16-1 shot and looked a sitting duck when Prima Vista threw down a challenge at the last, but Spirit Of Adjisa simply would not be denied and battled to a short-head victory.

That completed a double for the jockey, who was also in the plate as Philip Hobbs landed his second big prize of the week when Wishfull Thinking took the Mick The Tent Memorial Novice Handicap Chase.

The top-weight (11-4 joint-favourite) jumped his rivals ragged from the front and finished four and a half lengths clear of market rival Blazing Tempo who made an error at the second-last.

Ruby Walsh gave Uncle Junior a patient ride before creeping into contention late on to collect the marathon Stephens Green Hibernian Club Handicap Chase.< Another Palm led over the last, where the always prominent Fair Along unseated, and Walsh drove Willie Mullins' 10-year-old (6-1) past to score by three lengths.

Nicky Henderson's Kid Cassidy (5-2 favourite) was well clear of the rest in second for most of the way in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle, and once he had brushed Celtic Folklore aside Tony McCoy's mount sauntered clear to win by 13 lengths.