Only one of the three features went to Willie Mullins.
And that was in the Novice Hurdle where he had 5 of the 9 runners but the winner, Mystical Power, was a very satisfying win as they hadn't thought much of the horse when he arrived as a 2yo and progress was very slow but eventually he got the message and defeated a couple of good hurdlers in Firefox and Slade Steel.
The afternoon's feature the Champion Chase went to the Joseph O'Brien trained Banbridge who was ridden by JJ J Sleven. He won by a neck from the gallant Captain Guiness with favourite Ddinoblue third.
The Novice Chase went to Spillane's Tower trained by Jimmy Mangan and ridden by Mark Walsh with a strong finish enabling him to get the better of Monty's Star by ¾ length and Three Card Brag on 25/1 ran third. Embassy Gardens was pulled up.
Wednesday starts with the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle with 8 runners on yielding ground.
Dancing City Mullins-Townend is on 15/8 with the Elliott pupil Better Days Ahead on 3/1 and Stellar Story 4/1.
There's a NH Flat Race which has got a Grade 1 label over 3300m and looks like it is for amateur riders. 12 go to post with the Mullins father and son going with Jasmin de Vaux who is on 3/2. William Munny is on 4/1 and Romeo Coolia on 9/2. We will just watch.
The Punchestown Gold Cup has 9 runners headed by the wonderful Galopin des Champs who has won the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second time. Mullins-Townend. Sadly there is no Shishkin here as he was cast in his box and found to have broken a leg in the process and was put down. Fastorslow is on 11/4 and Ccrach Rambler who was fancied in the Grand National but unseated Derek Fox early on in the race. Lucinda Russell has booked J Gainford for the ride and they are on 12/1 which could be on the generous side.
