Racing: Silent Oscar just got the better of favourite Macs Joy in a thrilling finish to the ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Partnered by Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power, the Harry Rogers-trained eight-year-old proved most game in fending off the 7-4 market leader after the last.
The first two pulled well clear of third-placed Hardy Eustace as Silent Oscar(20-1) sprung what was a major surprise in the Grade One contest.
Hardy Eustace made the early pace as Macs Joy was settled in behind by Barry Geraghty.
Only approaching the fourth-last did Hardy Eustace begin to falter as Silent Oscar cruised up on the outside to hit the front.
Macs Joy soon went in pursuit and the pair settled down to battle it out in the straight, with Silent Oscar just shading it as they jumped the last.
Rogers' charge had beaten Macs Joy on the Flat at the Curragh earlier in the month and he dug deep to hold on by a neck once again.
Rogers said: "I am surprised. I thought he had a slight chance and this was always the plan, but I thought I'd be chasing placed prize money.
"His win at the Curragh was no fluke and freshened him up nicely, but the ground is the key to him.
"He ran third behind Brave Inca on heavy ground over Christmas, but he needs fast ground.
"Robbie was great on him and the horse has galloped all the way to the line. He is a two-and-a-half-mile horse so Robbie went on a long way out.
"I might look at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for him in the summer if the ground is good and not too fast and after that he will have a good break."
Power added: "I probably got to the front sooner than I wanted, but Hardy Eustace wasn't travelling like he usually does. When Barry came to us again he really picked up and stuck his head out."
Willie Mullins had drawn a rare blank for the first three days of the Festival but Alexander Taipanended the drought in the Betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase.
Ruby Walsh's mount was one of three who jumped the final fence upsides and the 4-1 favourite displayed tremendous courage to get the better of Anothercoppercoast by a neck and land the 110,000 euro event.
Mullins said: "That was an exceptional ride from Ruby Walsh. The horse did nothing to help but Ruby was excellent. I'll put him away now and he'll stay chasing next season.
"I'm not sure how high up the ladder he will go but I thought he was Grade One class, so we'll step him up and see how he goes."
Enda Bolger's name is synonymous with the unique banks course at Punchestown and the County Limerick trainer added another trophy to his cabinet as LonesomeDay struck in the Newbridge Silverware Chase.
Fresh from his amazing 10th success in the La Touche Cup, Bolger was back in the winner's enclosure as his 7-1 chance held on gamely under Nina Carberry.
The seven-year-old only took the lead over the final fence, but was brave in front and broke his maiden tag at the 18th time of asking with a length-and-a-quarter defeat of Glenduff Bridge.
Tommy Carberry sent out his first winner for 173 days as Andrew Duff got Kings Glenup in the dying strides to claim the Ellen Construction Conyngham Cup Handicap Chase.
The 33-1 shot finished with a full head of steam on the stands side to surge past Petertheknot and Dublin Hunter and record a head victory.