Pleased: trainer Philip Fenton

PHILIP FENTON'S champion bumper horse Dunguib warmed up for the Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse in two weeks time with a smooth success under amateur Brian O'Connell in the Ballymaloe Country Relish Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

The 2/13 favourite led after the third flight en route to a facile four-and-a-half length win over Puyol and is now unbeaten in his two runs over hurdles. Bookmakers William Hill and Betfair both trimmed Dunguib's odds for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham from 5/2 to 9/4 favourite.

Fenton was noticeably pleased after the win. "That was grand. His jumping was good and slick, apart from the first two were he probably wasn't concentrating and he learnt more today. We've had so much rain at least the ground was loose rather than tacky and Brian did the sensible thing in letting him go on because he could see a bit more."

The trainer then added "This was the proper place for him to learn. Roll on Fairyhouse. If he comes through Fairyhouse alright it'll be back up to Leopardstown after that at Christmas."

Trainer Enda Bolger, the undisputed king of cross-country races, sent out the John Thomas McNamara-ridden odds-on shot L'Ami to take the Event Power Risk Of Thunder Chase at his ease, 24 hours after Garde Champetre had obliged in a similar event at Cheltenham.