FOOTPAD put in a superb round of jumping as he maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The brilliant six-year-old had missed Aintree as he was out of sorts, but the Arkle Trophy hero showed he was 100% again by galloping his rivals into the ground.

Daryl Jacob rode the Willie Mullins-trained gelding with great confidence and had the two-mile feature at his mercy after shrugging his old adversary Petit Mouchoir aside.

Castlegrace Paddy tried to go with the top novice, but Footpad, the 2/5 favourite, left him in his wake. It was left to Dan Skelton's 25/1 shot Optimus Prime to pick up the pieces and take second place.