WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend teamed up to record a treble, including both graded races, on Punchestown’s Sunday card, highlighted by the success of Salvator Mundi (8/15 favourite) in the featured Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

The second-season novice, sixth in the Triumph Hurdle before winning a Tipperary maiden by a street on his previous outing in May, was held up behind the leaders in a slowly-run affair.

Not fluent on several occasions, he was pushed along in fourth after two out and picked up well on the outer to lead at the last.

Three lengths was the margin of victory over stablemate Kel Histoire and Joe and Marie Donnelly’s five-year-old remains a general 3/1 chance for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

“He was fresh, and it was messy, so I would say it was going to be hard to be impressive,” said Townend.

“We know he can jump, but he didn’t jump well today, because I couldn’t let him.

“He had to dig in then off the bend on tacky ground in the straight. He’ll have to build on it, but I think he will.

“He has gears and, on that ground, it’s hard to use gears on it to the best effect. I’d say a stronger run race on looser ground, wetter ground even, would help him.”

Watson takes command

Mullins’ Lecky Watson (5/4 favourite) had earlier made virtually all to win the Sky Bet, For The Fans Novice Chase.

The Slaneyville Syndicate’s seven-year-old, successful on his chasing debut at Naas before Christmas, wasn’t always foot-perfect, but responded well when pressed by market rival Down Memory Lane after the second-last.

In command when far from fluent at the final fence, where the runner-up also made a mistake, Lecky Watson went away to score by eight lengths and was shortened to 10/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Townend commented: “He enjoyed the scenery anyway, I had a job getting him to concentrate. At the fourth and third-last, when we were going on, were the best jumps he threw, but the engine is in there. He settled it quickly and they were no slouches behind him.

“He’s probably more mature this year, but we’ll have to work on his jumping, I suppose. It was frozen all week and we couldn’t give him a refresher either, which probably didn’t help.

“I always thought he was a stayer, but he was just so hard on himself. If he relaxes more, it’s out in trip, rather than back, you’d be going.”

Completed it

Kappa Jy Pyke (1/1 favourite) took the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Maiden Hurdle to complete the Mullins/Townend treble.

Runner-up on his Irish debut at Cork, the French import was prominent throughout and held a narrow lead over market rival Don’tstopthemusic when that one came down at the last, leaving the winner to coast home, 17 lengths ahead of Brave Brigadier.

Townend said of the Stennett and Varmen Partnership’s five-year-old: “He built on Cork in every sense, jumping-wise and the freshness was gone out of him with the benefit of the run.

“I thought he quickened up smartly down the straight.”

BARRY Connell’s horses continue in fine form and Nine Graces (11/4) provided him with another winner in his own colours, when taking the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Amateur National (Q.R.) Handicap Chase.

Finny Maguire took his time on the daughter of Kapgarde, who hit the front on the run to the last and stayed on well to beat Prince Zaltar by four lengths.

“Her jumping was a revelation there. She’s not the biggest mare, but she’s just very accurate,” said Connell.

“She might squeeze into a nice, staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas. She’s a winter soft-ground mare. I’d be hoping next year that she could make up into a graded mare over a trip.”

Back on form

Dual-purpose performer Londonofficecallin (7/1) bounced back from a poor run at Navan in November to take the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle under Daniel King.

The In Bounds Syndicate-owned grey got a run through on the inner to lead before the last and stayed on well to beat Sammy Smart by two and three-quarter lengths.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell commented: “He was great, he surprised me on the ground. He’s a small enough horse and most of his form is on nice ground. The last day was a bit of a head-scratcher, but he’s certainly back on track now.”

NEY sprang a 33/1 surprise on his first start over fences, when landing the Sky Bet Build A Bet Beginners Chase.

Previously a winner on the flat and over hurdles, the seven-year-old was making his debut for trainer Ed Buckley and was ridden by his son Kieren.

The son of Free Eagle, owned by Molly and Paul Willis and Mark Phillips, came from well off the pace to head longtime leader Brucejack between the final two fences and went away to readily account for that rival by two and a quarter lengths.

The winning trainer reported: “He won like he’d win again. The one thing about him is that he does want soft ground, he’s a heavy-boned lad and likes getting his toe in.”

Midweek Voices (9/2) recorded the first victory of his career when running out an easy winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase under Cian Quirke.

The Ocavango six-year-old, owned by Eddie Walsh, led travelling well before two out and eased clear to beat Mahlers Cove by 10 lengths.

Trainer Eoin Doyle said: “I’d say maybe the step back in trip to 2m3f helped him. He did it well and we’ll probably look at another handicap off a lighter weight.”