Jimmy Mangan, Brian Hayes and Darragh O'Keeffe deliver at Punchestown

Conna trainer Jimmy Mangan set the tone for a good afternoon from a Cork perspective when his Pure Steel landed the opening Matchbook Betting Exchange Rated Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday. 

Rosscarberry jockey Brian Hayes recorded a notable double on a miserable day weather-wise. Doneraile jockey Darragh O'Keeffe was back among the winners for trainer Henry De Bromhead aboard Echoing Silence.

Pure Steel confirmed the promise gleaned from his chasing debut at Naas when he landed the opener at Punchestown. 

Mark Walsh rode a patient race before making significant headway on the approach to the third last. Sporting the JP McManus silks, Pure Steel came there cantering on the run to the final fence. He assumed control from Coral River and duly won easily by three and a quarter lengths. 

Speaking afterwards to Racing TV, Mangan indicated the trip is likely to suit him in the short term. "We’ll stick to two miles at the moment. He didn’t have a hard race there." 

Trainers tend to be creatures of habit and Mangan also won this race with his stable star Spillanes Tower two years ago. Jimmy also indicated that Spillane's Tower might run in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January.

He was off-colour when disappointing at Naas over hurdles last month.

HAYES DOUBLE:

Brian Hayes initiated his double aboard the Colm Murphy-trained mare Zanoosh. She shed her maiden status over hurdles, securing the Matchbook Backs Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle.

The former bumper winner was well backed into 2/1 though her Betfair SP was 10/3. Paul Townend attempted to make all the running aboard 5/4 favourite Fillyoureye. Zanoosh was always going easily and she swept through to lead approaching the final flight.

Ultimately, Hayes had five and a half lengths to spare. 

The winner looks a progressive mare and is likely to go the handicap route. The runner-up Fillyoureye is one to note on New Year's day in Tramore in a maiden hurdle.

Sea Of Sands led home a Mullins' 1-2 and completed a notable double for Hayes and the trainer in the Punchestown Hurdle. He'd won twice on the Flat in Germany and made a successful hurdling debut in a maiden hurdle at last year's Listowel festival.

He'd been tailed off last in the Irish Cesarawitch when last seen at the Curragh in September.

Hayes exuded confidence on the 13/2 chance. He made significant headway entering the home straight.

He reeled in the longtime leader Immutable on the run to the final flight. Brian Hayes got a great tune out of Sea Of Sands and he stayed on strongly to beat stable companion Charlus by two and a half lengths.

If you delved deep into the form book from last year, you'd have seen the winner finish third in Fairyhouse, in the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.He finally fulfilled that level of performance today