Racing: Willie Mullins unleashed another potential champion bumper contender as Fiveforthree bolted in by seven lengths at Punchestown to receive quotes of 12-1 for the Cheltenham contest.
The five-year-old grey, a half-brother to Hennessy Gold Cup winner Celestial Gold, travelled smoothly throughout for Katie Walsh and soon had the Rockview INH Flat Race in the bag.
Sent off the 9-4 favourite, Walsh was never far from the pace and never had an anxious moment before moving to join the leaders two furlongs from home. Walsh asked her mount to quicken and he did so in grand style to force his way into Mullins' Festival plans.
"He looks a smart sort," said Mullins. "He hadn't shown a lot before Christmas, but has improved immensely in last few weeks. He can only improve on that. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks with regards to the Cheltenham team.
"At the moment it looks like this fellow and Mad Fish will be heading there (for the bumper). I want to run Mad Fish again beforehand, but I'm not going to run him in heavy ground again."
Wins Now was given a quote of 25-1 by VC Bet for the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle after a smooth two and a half length success in the Irish National Hunt Festival Novice Hurdle.
Sent off the 2-1 favourite after winning his last two starts at Cork and Navan, he was given a very confident ride by Niall 'Slippers' Madden, riding for his father, 'Boots'
The disappointment of the race was Edward O'Grady's Medicinal, who had been well-touted beforehand but faded tamely to finish seventh of the eight runners.