< Quevega (11/10 favourite) came out best in the battle of the mares, accounting for Voler La Vedette in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins' brilliant eight-year-old, who won at the Cheltenham Festival for the fourth successive year last month, looked in need of a run on the home turn, but Ruby Walsh spotted a gap on the inside.
She had hit the front by the final flight and, try as Voler La Vedette might, she couldn't match the finishing speed of Quevega, who landed this Grade 1 for the third time by five and a half lengths.
The two conventional chases may have been cancelled, but the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort Chase for the La Touche Cup over the banks course was given the go-ahead, and went the way of Quevega's stablemate Uncle Junior
The 6/1 co-favourite had the welter burden of 12st 7lb and wasn't sighted for much of the marathon contest but Patrick Mullins brought him with a perfectly-timed challenge to break the heart of Lydon House in the dying strides.
Champion jockey-elect Davy Russell was seen to good effect on Tofino Bay in the Stephens Green Hibernian Club Hurdle.
Sent off a 5/2 chance on the back of an excellent second to Get Me Out Of Here at Fairyhouse, Dessie Hughes' nine-year-old dictated terms to suit himself and although Turban loomed up menacingly approaching the last, the little bit extra Russell had kept up his sleeve saw Tofino Bay go away again, with a slicker leap sealing a two-and-a-quarter-length success.< Whatever Jacksays (8/1) came off the substitutes' bench to turn the Naas Court And Il Fico Restaurant Handicap Hurdle into a procession.
Originally only first reserve, last week's Wexford winner kicked clear entering the straight and coasted home by 17 lengths.
The Kildare Post INH Flat Race brought the curtain down on day three of the Festival and saw Buckers Bridge maintain his unbeaten record in clear-cut fashion.
