Highlight of the day

There was a reception of real warmth from the Punchestown crowd after Spillane’s Tower made it back-to-back Grade 1 wins for Jimmy Mangan. While not begrudging the success of bigger outfits, diversity among the yards winning at National Hunt racing’s top table is something to be welcomed.

Ride of the day

Given he was riding a horse who had been to both Cheltenham and Aintree already this spring, Mark Walshwould have been forgiven if having concerns at halfway about whether Mystical Power would be able to close down the leaders off a strong pace in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle. However, he timed his challenge nicely to get the job done.

Performance of the day

Bearing in mind he was probably running over a trip short of his best, Banbridge deserves plenty of credit for getting up to win the feature Grade 1 Chase and in the process beating the reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase hero.

He really thrives on decent ground.

In-running carnage of the day

There was a fair deal of fluctuation in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle in-running. Slade Steel, sent off at 5/2, traded as short as 1/5, Firefox (SP 9/2) went close to evens and the winner, Mystical Power (SP 2/1), could have been backed at 29/1. He actually hit a shade above 14/1 in-running on his way to his first hurdles success at Galway last summer too.

Market mover of the day

There was strong support behind Dinoblue in the feature (cut from 2/1 to an SP of 11/10) but she didn’t appear to have many obvious excuses for being beaten. In the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, Sharjah proved very popular - trimmed to as short as 6/1 during the day from 33/1 - but could only manage sixth.

Eyecatcher

of the day

The way the Goffs Defender Bumper unfolded, it was probably a big effort from 40/1 newcomer W B Easy to finish as well as he did in fifth after coming from well off the pace. He looks to have a future for Arthur Moore.

Quote of the day

“I was coming near to the end of the road but this really puts me back on the motorway again!” - Jimmy Mangan after victory with Spillane’s Tower.