Andrew McNamara registered his first victory as a trainer courtesy of Double Speak in the Kildare Hunt Club Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday.

The 8-1 chance wore down market leader Castle Guest in the straight and pulled out plenty, despite being absent for the best part of two years, to triumph by three and three-quarter lengths.

McNamara said: "I'm delighted to get off the mark. They've all been running well and we've had a couple of close calls. Everything has been running well and I'm delighted with the way they are going. I'm glad one has got their head in front.

"He had been off injured for a while and got quite heavy so I thought he might take the run but Puppy (Robbie Power) said he didn't give a blow.

"He's a very good jumper and will jump a fence in time. He'll probably step up to two and a half miles now and go for a novice.

"I have five ready to go and a couple of bumper horses. They all should be competitive enough."

Power, who also won the feature two-mile handicap chase on Mr Fiftyone, added: "It's great. I've ridden a few horses for him so far and, give him credit where it is due, his horses look a million dollars. They are fit. I mean that horse hasn't run for two years. He's fit enough to do the job today.

"He wants two and a half (miles). I rode him work before and I thought he would win a two-and-a-half-mile maiden, I didn't think he would win a two-mile one. That wasn't the strongest of maidens so when he steps up to two and a half he should improve a bit more.

"He got him off Henry de Bromhead, who is no slouch as we all know. But to produce a horse first time out after two years off is a good training performance."

Robbie Power also partnered Mr Fiftyone to vicotoryein the Panoramic Restaurant Handicap Chase.

Jessica Harrington's 2-1 market leader hadn't got his head in front for a while but is rarely too far away and built on last month's fourth at the Festival here to beat Draycott Place by two and a half lengths.

Harrington said: "He was good and loves that type of ground.

"He's probably a little bit stronger than last year when he wasn't quite getting home.

"He'll have a summer campaign - anything over two miles. He definitely prefers a big galloping track and he'll come back here on June 1 for the conditions chase.

"He jumps so well and it's great to get him back in the winner's enclosure.

"We might run him in a one-mile-six-furlong Flat race to keep moving but I don't think he'll go back over hurdles as he jumps them too slow."

Harrington completed a double of her own when The Birdie Crowe (8-1) took the Racing Again On 1st June Flat Race.

Chatham House Rule was turned over at odds-on at Thurles on his previous outing but made amends in emphatic fashion in the ATC Celebrating 25 Years In Business Beginners Chase.

Sent off at 12-1 this time, the Gordon Elliott-trained grey led his rivals a merry dance in the hands of Bryan Cooper and crossed the line with eight and a half lengths to spare over Phil's Magic.

Crosshue Boy showed his appreciation for the step up to three miles, as well as tackling obstacles, by landing the Punchestown For Events Maiden Hurdle.

The 15-8 shot was driven to lead before the last by Davy Russell and stayed on well to beat High Nellie by five and a half lengths.

Russell followed up on Bye Bye O Bye in the Punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle, although it was hard work for the 9-4 favourite, who only collared Clontarf in the dying strides, and the jockey completed a treble when 11-2 joint-favourite Windy Millie took the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap Chase.

Tom Brett was taken to hospital for X-rays following a nasty incident in the bumper at Punchestown.

Brett was riding Shine Of Dubai when his mount came down, bringing down two other horses.

Turf Club doctor Bernard Healy said: "He suffered no loss of consciousness and is being treated for a potential head and chest injury. He is on oxygen, he's comfortable and is breathing normally and is coherent."

The other two riders involved walked away apparently unscathed.

READ THE FULL PUNCHESTOWN REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD