OWNER Annette Mee maintained her winner a day start to this year’s meeting as Diamond Hill (5/2), who won on the flat on this card 12 months ago, made a successful return to jumping in the Tote-sponsored two-mile, five-furlong maiden hurdle.

The talented daughter of Beat Hollow recovered well from a mistake early on the final circuit and quickened smartly for Paul Townend to take over the lead at the last before getting the better of Days Without End.

The six-year-old wasn’t at her best in four hurdle runs last autumn but this was much more in keeping with her abilities and she could be set for an industrious autumn.

“She was a bit novicey and a bit keen but I was impressed with how she quickened from the last bend to the final flight. At the moment she doesn’t jump well enough for two miles but she is quite keen so she may have to come back in trip at some stage,” commented trainer Willie Mullins.

As expected, the 94-rated Buildmeupbuttercup brought up a double for Willie Mullins in the Play The Tote Trifecta (Q.R.) Maiden. An excellent second in the Ascot Stakes on her last start looked to put this five-year-old on a different level to her rivals for this mile-and-a-half contest and that proved to be the case for the John Turner-owned mare.

The 1/2 favourite cruised through the race for Patrick Mullins and sauntered into the lead early in the straight for a commanding four-and-a-half length triumph over Run For Mary. This was a sixth win in the race for Patrick Mullins.

“It was just a question of whether she would cope with the drop back to a mile and a half from two and a half miles and whether she’d come up the hill, but she coped with both,” reported the trainer.