PACE was less of a factor in the two chases on Punchestown’s opening day than in the novice hurdle, though the BoyleSports Champion Chase turned into quite a test of stamina for a two-miler.

Un De Sceaux looked home and hosed early in the straight (touched 4/1 on in the run) but began to flag approaching the last, just as Fox Norton’s stamina booted in. The latter swept past to win in a 163 timefigure, his best to date, with Un De Sceaux on 161 a bit below his recent best of 164.