Three miles it may have been but just over five lengths split the first eight home in the Grade B Alanna Homes Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. Up front it was A Great View that short-headed Ainsi Va La Vie

Denis Cullen has care of A Great View for J P McManus (earlier had a 1-2 in the La Touche), and Mark Walsh did the steering.

This could still be viewed as good work for the Willie Mullins team as Ainsi Va La Vie represented the Closutton outfit under Paul Townend whilst Orion D'Aubrelle (4th) was also running for the County Carlow powerhouse.

"He's tough and he stuck it out. He is workmanlike but the more you ask the more he gives. It's great to get some compensation as we were chinned at Christmas and unlucky two out at Cheltenham," said Cullen.

"The only place his head was in front was on the line but that's the only place that matters. He's not over-raced and he trains well at home. We look after him as he's a star in our yard, and if we got a few more we wouldn't be complaining.

"He’s not badly handicapped over fences so we'll see what the owner wants to do. He's a horse that could run in an Irish National some day."

D.N. Russell, rider of Gun Digger trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped very quickly.

(AM & EM)