Even money market-leader Senewalk didn't come up to expectations, fading out of it in the straight to finish sixth, as second favourite Moulin A Vent (2/1) came to the fore in the Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

There was still a few of them in there pitching on the turn-in, but the Noel Meade-trained and Sean Flanagan-ridden Moulin A Vent confirmed his superiority from the last to win by two and a quarter lengths and a neck from Minella Till Dawn and Runfordave

"He's only filling out and is still a bit green, although the race in the North stood to him. I was worried that this race was coming a bit quick but we can give him a bit of time now," reported Meade.

"I think he's a real racehorse and he loves soft ground. I've had it in my head to run him in the Navan Hurdle but we may wait and look at something like the Slaney Hurdle in Naas."

(AM & EM)