Punchestown Joy for Mullins and Townend

Lot Of Joy dominated the Listed Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle from the front for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at Punchestown.

Townend set a strong gallop early on, as the six-year-old looked to follow up last month’s comfortable triumph at Gowran Park.

He allowed the chasing pack to close up but then kicked again after turning for home, with the 6-4 favourite powering four lengths clear of runner-up Risk Belle.

Mullins said: “I think she enjoyed being left alone in front and Paul was happy with her. She took her breathers and jumped better. She’s settling better.

“We didn’t think she would handle that sort of ground, but it’s good to know that she’s able to handle it and we can continue with her. We were half thinking of putting her away.

“She could go to Leopardstown, and I wouldn’t mind stepping up to two and a half. She has to improve a bit, but we’ll give her the opportunity.”

Both Betfair and Paddy Power introduced Lot Of Joy into their Cheltenham Festival Mares’ Hurdle market at 20-1.

Stumptown made every post a winning one for a courageous success over the banks in the Colm Quinn BMW Risk Of Thunder Chase under Keith Donoghue.

Gavin Cromwell’s 3-1 chance took top honours in a cross-country event at the Punchestown Festival in May and clearly enjoyed himself in this sphere again, seeing off the challenge of market leader Coko Beach before galloping on to beat outsider Three By Two by two and three-quarter lengths.

Cromwell said: “He’s taken to it so well, he loves it. He’s careful enough over his fences in chases and you might think that he wouldn’t have the heart for it, but he’s taken to it really well.

“There is a race at Cheltenham in December and he’ll probably go there.

“I don’t know too much about it but Keith says the course is very different to here. We’ll be happy to get him over there at the next meeting and get him around it.”

The Big Westerner continued Henry de Bromhead’s fine run of form when rallying gamely to get the better of Argento Boy in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at 4-1.

Bought for £120,000 after a Ballycahane point-to-point victory, the five-year-old mare showed an admirable attitude after the firm favourite had moved alongside approaching the final flight.

De Bromhead said: “She looks a nice mare, jumped great and travelled well. Darragh (O’Keeffe) was great on her and I’m delighted to get it for the Marigas, who are great supporters of ours.

“She picked up well after missing the last a bit. She’s still a bit green. I think she’ll handle festival ground, but she’ll go through the winter stuff. I hope so. She’s a big, scopey mare and hence the name, I suppose.

“We’ve some lovely young horses – we hoped we had coming into the season and felt we had bought well, but you never know. We’re happy where we are at the moment and we’ll try to maintain it.”