Bach in business as Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh get off to Galway flier

Walsh always had the 5-4 favourite handily placed in the Galwaybayhotel.com & Radissonhotelgalway.com Novice Hurdle over two miles, before the grey drew clear of Neverushacon two flights from home.

Zafayan gave chase, but it was a largely futile exercise as Bachasson, sporting the same silks made famous by Un De Sceaux, effortlessly maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles by 16 lengths.

Walsh said: "He jumped super, travelled well and did it quite impressively - hopefully he can improve."

Mullins said: "This seems to be another lucky purchase (for owner Edward O'Connell).

"He didn't cost the earth but he's able to go and able to jump.

"He took no prisoners but that's the kind of confidence he was giving Ruby to be able to do that.

"We'll look for a nice novice for him now."

Beckwith Star (7-1) bravely won the two-mile Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle for a second consecutive year.

Henry de Bromhead's 10-year-old looked susceptible to Defining Year at the top of the home straight, but Dermot Weld's inmate did not find as much as had been expected and could only finish third.

Plain Sailing instead came powerfully from off the pace under Danny Mullins, but he was narrowly kept at bay by the Adam O'Neill-ridden Beckwith Star, with just a head separating the protagonists.

De Bromhead said :"For a 10-year-old he has some heart and is very straightforward.

"He battled really well and he can do anything (over hurdles or fences) now as he has his job done.

"Fair play to Adam, he gave him a super ride and is great value for his 5lb claim."

Galway maestro Dermot Weld bagged his first winner of the Festival when True Solitaire skipped four and three-quarters of a length clear in the Claregalwayhotel.ie EBF Maiden.

The 6-4 second favourite jostled for the lead with Spader for a long way in the seven-furlong heat before Pat Smullen went for broke as the field straightened for home.

True Solitaire responded positively as the youngster galloped strongly across the line for a facile triumph, with 66-1 runner-up The Moore Factor never a factor.

Unicorn (11-8 favourite) was third, whereas Spader wilted out of contention inside the final 200 yards.

Weld said: "He's a good, tough colt.

"He ran an excellent race when he was second in Gowran and he's progressed from there.

"He's a progressive colt and handled the ground well.

"He knew his job and handled the track. You usually need a stakes horse to win any of these two-year-old races and he'll go on to Listed or Group level now.

"He has a lot of physical development to do and isn't yet the finished article, but will get a mile this year.

"The Group Three on Champion Stakes day (John Deere Juvenile Turf Stakes at Leopardstown on September 12) is a very suitable race for him next."