Impaire Et Passe got the job done smoothly enough on his debut over fences when justifying odds of 2/13 in the SIS Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

A multiple Grade 1 winner over smaller obstacles, including a Ballymore victory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and this year’s Aintree Hurdle, he was made to work a bit by stablemate O’Moore Park and Twoohthree.

However, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old responded well when asked to quicken up by Paul Townend and had already taken control of proceedings when that pair both fell at the last, leaving Impaire Et Passe to come home 12 lengths clear of Staffordshire Knot.

“He was class. He jumped brilliant, he got a bit lackadaisical in the middle of it but when I opened him up at the back of the second-last, he took off,” said Townend.

“He had a great jump at the last and did everything I wanted him to do. He stood off when I wanted him and was good at getting in. I’m very happy.

“He was quick over the first couple and popped away when I wanted him then. When I lit him up at the back of the second-last, he took off.

“He went to sleep on me after jumping the two out of Ballyhack and I was happy enough not to light him up that far out.

“I was hoping when I did he would come alive and he did – mustard.”

Mullins and Townend were also on the mark in the Kettles Country House Hotel Supporting Fingal Ravens GFC Raceday Maiden Hurdle with 3/1 scorer Ballygunner Castle.

The five-year-old had won two bumpers in the spring at Limerick and Tipperary and returned to action with a determined triumph, overcoming being hampered by a loose horse in the home straight to beat Special Cadeau by a length and a quarter.

“He had to overcome plenty from very early. He got a good bump at the start and I nearly fell off him at the first,” said Townend.

“I had to ride him on then and I made him do plenty throughout the race. There were no hiding places and it was messy up the straight, but he still pulled out again. It’s the sign of a good one.

“He will relax better, I had him lit up to take on his hurdles early today because of what happened at the first. He’ll be fine, he’s learning on the job.

“The horse inside me wasn’t quick away from the last either, but still to do all that wrong and pull another bit was a fair performance.”

Former Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share was two and a half lengths back in fifth.

Henry de Bromhead landed the Listed-class EasyFix Equine Handicap Chase with 8/1 shot The Folkes Tiara on his seasonal debut.

There were six in a line jumping the final fence, but Brian Hayes got the most out of his mount on the run-in and he beat The King Of Prs by three-quarters of a length.

“That was great. He had lost his form a little bit and it’s great to see him back. Brian was brilliant on him,” said De Bromhead.

“He jumped unreal. Brian said he thought he was beaten coming to the last and he said the leap he put in there was brilliant and he winged it.

“He won at Leopardstown (at Christmas) last year and he’ll be a couple of pounds higher now but it’s a very valuable pot. We’re delighted to win today, though.”

Stablemate Sam Magee took the Race And Stay Ladies Handicap Chase at 6/1 under Georgie Benson.