Rathlin soars over a fence at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
A superb round of jumping saw the Gigginstown House-owned Rathlin run his rivals ragged in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Chase.
Having mixed hurdles and fences throughout the winter, Mouse Morris' charge appeared to relish the soft ground when back in the groove over the larger obstacles at Killarney recently and he coped brilliantly with much quicker conditions in his follow-up mission.
Soon into a lovely rhythm at the head of affairs, Mark Enright continued to get a sweet tune out of the 2-1 chance and he had the race in safe keeping after kicking clear on the turn for home.
Dour stayer Treacle plugged on to finish a 19-length second, but the well-backed favourite Jetson was a bitter disappointment and failed to beat a rival.
There was further joy for Gigginstown when the Gordon Elliott-trained Dont Back Down took the Punchestown For Events Handicap Chase under Davy Condon.
The 8-1 shot was sporting blinkers for the first time in his career and consigned a non-completion at Wexford to past by beating Total Submission by three and a half lengths.
The Chaarlie Swan-trained Tribes And Banner ridden by John Cullen, completed back-to-back course victories with a taking display in the opening 10 Euros Admission Chase.
The nine-year-old took over from Imperial Shabra some three fences from the finish and galloped his rivals into submission, pulling 11 lengths clear of market leader Burn And Turn < Indevan won the Go Racing In Kildare Maiden Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
The 11-8 chance made a mistake three from the finish and was momentarily caught flat-footed but he soon found his stride and powered home by three and three-quarter lengths from The Job Is Right after taking it up between the final two flights.
