Peter Maher’s Big Shu claimed a narrow victory in the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase, the opening race of the 2012 Punchestown Festival.

Drying ground at Leopardstown greatly reduced the impact of the traditional after-racing gallops ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

CONOR O’DWYER, whose record at Cheltenham is winning two Gold Cups and two Champion Hurdles, could be on the trail of the great Festival again next month.