Western Boy (14/1) overcame a long absence to bounce back to form in the Killashee Handicap Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on Tuesday.

The Pat Fahy-trained gelding had not run over obstacles since stumbling and slipping up when holding every chance in the same race 12 months ago.

The eight-year-old had only one run in the last year, on the flat at the Curragh in August, but showed no signs of rustiness as he was delivered with a well-timed run by Jody McGarvey to score by a length and a half from Light That.

"That was great. He's a lucky horse to be here at all because last year he got brought down and his sinus and all that part of his nose was broken," said Fahy.

"He was going well, but got an awful fall. He didn't just slip up, a horse kicked him in the head as well.

"They did a great job to get him back. I'm very happy with him.

"He has a great cruising speed but it takes a lot to put it together. He'd often be going well and land on top of a hurdle and it would be all over. It's nice when it comes together once.

"He was a great horse (as a novice) but his jumping let him down. His jumping let him down at Cheltenham that year, when he was beaten 10 lengths by Vautour - he nearly ended up out in the car park.

"He just needs everything to go right for him. Jumping has always been a problem but it was good today."

On the subject of tackling fences again, Fahy said: "I wouldn't be in favour of it at the moment. He has the hang of this now and with the help of god he'll stay sound.

"You'd imagine we could look at the Galway Hurdle and he might take in something on the flat."

BANKS WIN FOR CODD

Enniskillen, twice runner-up in the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup, finally got his head in front in the Festival opener.

The 6/4 favourite had never managed to win under rules before but travelled strongly into contention and hit the front on the home turn.

The race appeared in safe keeping at that point, but Treo Eile rallied and Enniskillen had to pull out all the stops to prevail by a length in the hands of Jamie Codd.

Trainer Peter Maher said: "He deserved that as he's always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Now he's the bride today. It's not that he's a great horse but everyone backs him each-way and he's always there or thereabouts but still never gives me a winner.

"He had it won one year and ran off the bend. That's him, he could go anywhere or do anything. He didn't let me down and deserved that.

"I was going mad as there was no rain for the La Touche and I really fancy Mtada Supreme. One of my friends said 'there are other racecourse you can train winners on you know' but I said 'no there isn't, this is the only place to get the winners'."

The victory moved Codd three winners clear of Patrick Mullins in the race to be crowned champion amateur.

READ RYAN McELLIGOTT'S EXCLUSIVE PUNCHESTOWN REPORTS IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND