L'Ami and JT McNamara repeated their success of 12 months ago for cross-country maestro Enda Bolger in the New Banks Course Risk Of Thunder Chase at Punchestown.
The 30-100 market leader jumped to the front after the Old Double and although he was far from foot-perfect afterwards, he still had enough in the tank to repel the challenge of stablemate King Johns Castle.
The latter was partnered by Nina Carberry, who again had to settle for the runner-up spot on Bolger's Arabella Boy in the G.A.A. Fundraisers Beginners Chase.
Carberry dictated terms to suit herself, but her mount couldn't withstand the challenge of the other 9-4 joint-favorite Magnanimity, who swept to a two-length success under Davy Russell.
Russell was already on the board, thanks to Rubi Light (5 & ndash;2 favourite) maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Active Retirement Days Handicap Chase.
Despite just two previous starts in this sphere, Robbie Hennessy's French recruit produced an assured round from the front to beat Askthemaster by five lengths.
Russell then completed a treble when Gordon Elliott's Beautiful Sound (5 & ndash;1) defied a long absence in the Thoroughbred Trails Handicap Chase.
However, he could only manage third on board the Eoin Doyle-trained Days Ahead, who was sent off favourite for the Punchestown Christmas Market 3-Y-O Hurdle but couldn't reel in Sabrina Harty's resolute front-runner Silas Mariner (9-4), and he was passed in the final 100 yards for second by Accidental Outlaw.
There was a good word for Zaidpour prior to the Punchestown Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle and Willie Mullins' half-brother to Zaynar didn't disappoint, disposing of his rivals with the minimum of fuss as the 8-11 favourite.
Shamiran (11-2) defied top-weight in the Tote Sports Lounge Novice Handicap Hurdle, while the Stars Of Tomorrow (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race went the way of 8-1 shot Exit To Anywhere.
