Landofhopeandglory wins again at Punchestown

The news from Punchestown, where Landofhopeandglory earned a possible step up in grade with another tidy success.

Landofhopeandglory duly landed the odds as he maintained his unbeaten record over jumps in the Luna Bar Supporting Cavan GAA 3-Y-O Hurdle at Punchestown.

A smart performer on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien, the three-year-old son of High Chaparral has made a smooth transition to the winter game since being switched to the care of his son, Joseph.

The 4/6 favourite followed up his Fairyhouse debut success in smooth fashion despite being weak in the market.

Not far off the pace set by Bobabout and Tout Est Permis, Landofhopeandglory was sent on before the final flight by Mark Walsh and went clear to score by four lengths from stable companion Zig Zag.

O'Brien said: "He travelled well and, like the last day, his jumping got better as the race went on. He was left in front turning in which wasn't ideal, but that's just the way the race worked out.

"We'll see how he comes out of this race before deciding if he goes to Fairyhouse for the Grade Three.

"He came out of his last race well so it's an option. JP (McManus, owner) and Frank (Berry, racing manager) both felt the extra experience today would do him good."

Bookmakers Sky Bet make Landofhopeandglory their 8/1 favourite from 10/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Let's Dance dispensed with older opposition as she made a winning reappearance in the Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle.

Fourth in last season's Triumph Hurdle and second in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown, Let's Dance had only a maiden success to her credit but looked a cut above as she took the Listed honours.

Shattered Love was her main market rival and tried to make the most of race fitness by leading from three out.

However, she could not shake off Willie Mullins' charge who ranged up menacingly and led at the final flight

She only had to be pushed out by Ruby Walsh to win cosily by two and three-quarter lengths.

Mullins said of the 4/6 favourite: "The conditions of the race suited her, and she didn't do any more than we were hoping for. Ruby felt the ground was a bit softer than described.

"I thought she was in trouble after the second-last but she got galloping in the straight. She has a bit of class and it kicked in.

"She is still a novice and we will probably stick to mares' novice races. She would have no trouble going up to two and a half miles, and in a faster-run race she could go back to two miles."

Haymount made virtually all the running to secure a quick double for Mullins and Walsh in the Gain Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase, looking a smart fencing prospect in the process.

It looked as though Haymount might be swamped when the pack closed four out, but with the far rail as a help, the 6/1 chance was in front as the field turned for home with two to jump in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

The seven-year-old, making his chasing debut, kept up the gallop in likeable style to beat Coney Island, the 11/4 favourite, by three and a quarter lengths. Mall Dini was a short head back in third.

Mullins said: "We knew he was stronger, but he's improved way more than we anticipated. There was no fluke there as he jumped from fence to fence and loved it.

"We'll probably have to enter him in the top races now, and he's every inch a chaser to look at. He went three miles over hurdles but ran too free, so we may stick to around that trip."

Senewalk was a big disappointment on his Irish debut in the Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle.

Prominent in the ante-post lists for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle without ever jumping an obstacle in public, Mullins' even-money favourite was always to the fore under Walsh but landed awkwardly over two out.

He weakened rapidly before the next and eventually finished sixth behind the Noel Meade-trained Moulin A Vent, (2/1) who beat Minella Till Dawn by two and a quarter lengths.

"He's only filling out and is still a bit green, although the race in the North stood to him. I was worried that this race was coming a bit quick but we can give him a bit of time now," reported Meade on www.irishracing.com.

"I think he's a real racehorse and he loves soft ground. I've had it in my head to run him in the Navan Hurdle but we may wait and look at something like the Slaney Hurdle in Naas."