Willie Mullins saddled the first three home in the Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown, but not in the order the market suggested.
Gitane Du Berlais was a well-backed 8-11 favourite for the Listed contest and attempted to make all under Ruby Walsh, but had no answers when challenged by stablemates Valyssa Monterg and Whiteout (Danny Mullins) approaching the last.
The latter quickened away in good style on the run in and registered a 13-2 success with three and three-quarter lengths to spare over Valyssa Monterg.
Mullins said: “The way the race was run everyone seemed to want to take on Gitane Du Berlais, cooking her goose and their own goose.
“The other two mares picked up the pieces and I believe soft ground is key to Whiteout.
“Gitane Du Berlais will go chasing, we will mix it with her this season.
“I was a bit disappointed with her, but I think it was tactics really. She probably needed it a bit, will improve a lot and is in the same mares’ race at Carlisle that I might look at for Vroum Vroum Mag.”
Mullins also struck in the Gain Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase with Outlander (7-4) under Bryan Cooper.
He said: “It was a very good race and jumping won it for him. He made one or two mistakes, but he was racing the whole way, I was very impressed.
“He looked like he would get further there, but he’s by Stowaway and they don’t appear to get three miles.
“The Drinmore will have to be looked at if he recovers in time. I was very pleased with his jumping.”
Walsh was on target for his father, Ted, as Rossvoss claimed the Festival 3 For 2 Ticket Offer Handicap Chase.
Walsh senior said of the 14-1 winner: “I may run him in the cross-country handicap at Cheltenham in December. He jumps those fences well.
“He went around with On His Own here during the week and jumped a few fences around the bottom.”
Nina Carberry was again in the spotlight over cross-country fences as Quantitative easing gave Enda Bolger a seventh Risk Of Thunder Chase success in eight years at Punchestown.
A day on from her double at Cheltenham, Carberry dominated proceedings after taking it up around the halfway mark.
On His Own, the 2014 Gold Cup runner-up travelled in mid-division, but failed to land a serious blow.
Love Rory, who was bidding for a hat-trick in the three-mile contest, got within three and three-quarters lengths of the 11-4 winner to give Bolger a one-two.
Bolger said: “That’s the first race he’s won for us since we got him. He was really sweet today.
“Obviously we were worried about On His Own, but the experience was a big help.
“He’ll stick to the cross-country races and might go to Cheltenham next month.”
Alan Fleming and Adrian Heskin teamed up for a double courtesy of Tully East (11-4 favourite) in the Cavan Supporters Club Supporting Cavan GAA Novice Handicap Hurdle and Marakoush (7-2) in the Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle.
