Duers showed himself to be a tough sort by turning out just three days after a fourth placing in the Munster National at Limerick, to land the www.punchestown.com Handicap Chase in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

The top-weight and co-favourite only had the fences and Old Si to contend with in the straight and he was going to win from before the last. On the run-in Duers went away to score by four and a half lengths. Other co-market-leader, Whats Up Gorden pulled up before two out and he was found to be clinically abnormal.

Paul Magnier, the winning trainer, said: "We thought his chance was compromised a bit on Sunday (trouble in running when 4th in the Munster National). He is a great jumper though and he is not a bad horse when he's right.

"He suffers from chronic asthma and has to be nebulised every day of his life. Hopefully the ground will stay in his favour for another while.

"He still has a good mark over hurdles and he was second to that good horse, Thousand Stars at Naas. He is progressive, he got a 1Ib for last Sunday and he'll likely get another six or seven for today.

"We had the best driver (Ruby Walsh) today and people like us don't always manage to get him. He gave the horse confidence all the way."