Mystical Power utilised all the genetic prowess instilled in him by his sire and dam when digging deep to overhaul perennial bridesmaid Firefox in the first Grade 1 of the Punchstown Festival, the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday.

A product of the celestial union of record-breaking stallion Galileo and former Punchestown Festival and Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power, the well-backed JP McManus-owned five-year-old carried on the stellar form of champion trainer, Willie Mullins with a supremely battling performance.

Stablemate Ile Atlantique cut out the early running and though Firefox took it up turning for home, the eye was drawn to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Slade Steel and Rachael Blackmore, with Mark Walsh showing distress signals on the eventual winner.

Blackmore was unable to get away from Firefox, who was third behind Slade Steel and Mystical Power at Cheltenham and got closer to the latter at Aintree subsequently, and as they approached the last, Gordon Elliott’s charge had hit the front.

Walsh began to get a tune out of the rallying Mystical Power however and after the last, they galloped to the line to justify 2/1 favouritism. Firefox was a gallant runner-up once more with Slade Steel finishing a tired looking third.

“He’s improving all season,” said Mullins. “Mark said he was going as fast as he could going into the last bend but then the race got into a staying race because the two other protagonists played their cards going to the last. They were flat out and then he just outstayed them with a good jump at the last.

“It’s fantastic that this horse is progressing as the season goes on. I think Annie Power is coming out in him in that he’s improving.

“She showed plenty of ability early (however) and he didn’t show any ability early. In his three-year-old year he didn’t show me much ability and then at the end of his four-year-old year he started to show a little bit. And he’s just improving. So I’d imagine a bit of both parents (that are an influence).”

The 2024 Punchestown Festival got under way with Georgie Benson booting home the Peter Flood-trained Knockiel Synge to land the Kildare Hunt Club Chase Ladies’ Cup over the traditional banks course.

It was a very enterprising ride by Benson and well judged, as she made all the running and increased the tempo three from home, establishing an advantage that Eoin Mahon and Fountain House could not reel in, scoring at 20/1.

It was payback too from the race for Flood, who suffered a bad injury in the Ladies’ Cup 14 years ago after a fall.

“Georgie gave him a brilliant ride and did everything that we wanted,” said Flood. “She does a lot of work with him. We don't really train him at all, we only mess around with him. He had been running well in a few of the point-to-point banks races and we brought him here in February because we wanted to get a school around. It was hot race that day but we really fancied him today. The better ground helped and he really loves the banks. If it was a normal race we'd be in trouble but the banks make all the difference.”

Meanwhile, the establishment of the Full Circle Series for horses rated 130 or lower and with an equal amount of qualifiers in Britain and Ireland (six each) paid rich dividends, with seven British-trained contenders in a fully subscribed contest and trainer, Tom Lacey taking the lion’s share of the €80,000 prize fund by saddling winner Tune In A Box and third-placed Montregard.

The celebrations in the parade ring were notable as the euphoric members of the Woolhope Hopefuls ownership group looked intent on making it a day to remember as a result of the 16/1 triumph, piloted brilliantly by Richard Patrick.

“It was a lad who does all my formwork for me highlighted the series to me,” said Lacey afterwards. “As soon as I read the conditions I thought it was ideal for a few of those in the barn. We highlighted them and hit the qualifiers quite strong. We won two and were second in another.

“Where can you go for an €80,000 horse with those horses? There’s not races for them with that prize fund so it’s crazy not to target it.

“I wouldn’t say I was confident coming here. I thought Montregard would be the horse to beat but it’s fab and he’s a horse that keeps surprising us quite truthfully.”