Long odds-on favourite Allure Of Illusion could only dead-heat with King Vuvuzela in a thrilling finish to the Eadestown GAA & Parish Fair Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.
Ruby Walsh set out to make most of the running on Willie Mullins' 1-5 chance, and everything looked to be going according to plan turning into the straight. The former smart bumper performer, an unlucky loser on his hurdling debut, jumped a bit sketchily over the final two flights, but still looked in control.
However, Robbie Power got a great tune out of the Paul Nolan-trained King Vuvuzela (13-2), who fought his way into the picture and could not be separated from Allure Of Illusion at the line.
Power said: "We'd have settled for that beforehand. He's a very nice horse and won a very good bumper here at the Festival. He'd had a couple of disappointing races this season, but Paul said he didn't think he was right, but he'd been showing him the right signs since.
"Just going to the second-last I wasn't convinced Ruby's horse would stay two and a half miles and I saw him start to niggle. I was unlucky not to get there on my own, but pleased to get a share of it. He'll stay three miles."
