Cullen's View the centrepiece on a mixed day for McManus

Owner JP McManus finally broke his duck for this year's Punchestown festival on day three on what was a mixed day for the former champion owner.

McManus managed to card a double on the afternoon, headlined by the very game success of A Great View in the Grade B Alanna Homes Handicap Hurdle under Mark Walsh. It looked an unlikely victory for a while as the Willie Mullins-trained grey Ainsi Va La Vie looked all over a winner coming to the final flight, but he fluffed his lines under Paul Townend, while the winner landed running and responded really well to pressure to get up for a last stride victory.

A special moment too for trainer Denis Cullen, who said: "He's tough and stuck it out. He's only workmanlike but the more you ask the more he gives and that was nice compensation after he got chinned at Christmas."