2018 Arkle champion Footpad is back to winning ways, easing to a ten-lengths success on his seasonal reappearance in the Listed Chase at Thurles.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old won four Grade Ones as a novice chaser but struggled for form last year.
Despite sitting in tenth for much of the race, the 8/11 favourite showed his pace to pull away from the field and easily see off a late rally from Mala Beach.
Mala Beach was second with 2018 Ryanair Chase winner Balko Des Flos back in fourth.
Fair play Willie Mullins - winning returns for Faugheen, Douvan and Footpad inside the last eight days.
23 Grade Ones between them! @WillieMullinsNH @punchestownrace @ClonmelR @thurlesraces pic.twitter.com/NGKOGw0XRJ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 21, 2019
"It is lovely to see the horse back on the racetrack and he had plenty of enthusiasm and jumped and travelled very, very well," said winning jockey Daryl Jacob after the race.
"It's a great starting point for him and he never missed a beat the whole way around.
"Today's trip wasn't a problem for him and ideally going a little bit quicker early doors would have suited him, but he is nice and fresh and it was good to see a performance like that this early in the year. It was mission accomplished today."
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