Pairofbrowneyes showcased the undoubted talent of Willie Mullins when landing the Toals.com Bookmakers Leinster National Handicap Chase on his first start for the champion trainer at Gowran Park.

The former Barry Murphy-trained gelding had previously won four times including the Tim Duggan at the Limerick Christmas meeting in 2015 but had struggled a bit in the past 12 months.

The nine-year-old gelding was backed on track from 6/1 into 9/2 and justified the confidence with a convincing success in this €100,000 event.

Paul Townend, completing a shared treble on the day with Mullins as he made a spectacular return from an ankle injury, rode a patient race in the very testing conditions and kept his mount wide in the heavy ground.

The son of Luso made smooth headway to lead three out and soon asserted to beat Space Cadet by three and three quarter lengths. Glencairn View was another three and a quarter lengths away in third, with Fine Theatre in fourth (Out Sam, lame, was an absentee leaving 15 runners).

Mullins said, “He did what he's bred to do and we'll look forward to all those long distance chases with him. He's qualified now for the Aintree National and that was the prime reason for running him here today.

“We'll see where we go now. He's in the Irish one, in at Aintree and we could also wait for Punchestown. He jumps great, and is a fine big strong staying chaser.”

(GC & AM)