Easy again for Dunguib
Champion Bumper winner Dunguib maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles with the minimum of fuss in the Ballymaloe County Relish Hurdle at Punchestown.
Philip Fenton's six-year-old, sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2-13 to oblige, despite the ground being desperately soft, again never came off the bridle.
His amateur pilot Brian O'Connell tried to settle him behind runners in the early stages but he was travelling so powerfully he rightly decided to give his mount a bit of rein.
Taking up the running a mile out, he only had Puyol for company for the rest of the race and had no trouble seeing off that rival to win by four and a half lengths.
Victor Chandler cut him to 9-4 from 11-4 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March and even into 16-1 from 25s for the Champion itself. William Hill are 9-4 from 5-2 about his Supreme chance.
Fenton said: "That was grand. He wasn't really concentrating over the first two and he learned more today.
"He jumped with enthusiasm. We'll find out more two weeks tomorrow in the Royal Bond.
"The ground out there was loose rather than tacky which was okay. Roll on Fairyhouse."
