The Punchestown Annual Membership Hurdle caused a shock for punters when 10/1 shot Coolcashin defeated the ? favourite Ebaziyan of Willie Mullins by 3 lengths under Tom Doyle.

Winning trainer Michael Bowe said afterwards, "Hopefully that's a good omen for 2009 as 2008 was a terrible year in every sense of the word. Things just didn't happen with the wet Summer and we never hit the ground running like we usually would at the start of the season.

"This fellow was always a nice horse and he'll go chasing eventually, he is a very good jumper. He just can't keep up with the top hurdlers but in fairness to him he had top weight here today and battled it out well."

Bowe also revealed that top hurdler Sweet Kiln has been retired.