Mullaghanoe River overcame trouble in-running to claim a cosy win, under Paul Carberry, in the opening Festival Hospitality From E99 Beginners Chase at Punchestown today.

The son of Beneficial was hampered by the fall of The Bosses Cousin at the second fence and was patiently ridden by Carberry thereafter, improving gradually to chase leader and 10/11 favourite Si C'etait Vrai at halfway.

Mullaghanoe River was untidy at the second last fence but in the end improved past the Si C'etait Vrai on the run to the final fence, eventually scoring a comfortable three parts of a length win.

Winning trainer Noel Meade later stated “he's very lazy and when he gets there he thinks he has done enough. He did a piece of work the other day which was way better than anything he had done before and if he hadn't made that mistake at the second last, he'd probably have won well.

“I could see him being in an Irish National some day and there's no doubt he could win one of those good staying chases.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee.