RACING/Fairyhouse report and preview: Davenport Milenium carried the colours of the big Aintree Grand National hope Alexander Banquet to a convincing victory at Fairyhouse yesterday.

"I told Noel (O'Callaghan) I hope this won't be his only winner of the week!" quipped Willie Mullins after Davenport Milenium justified favouritism in the novice hurdle.

The winner was returning after a long lay-off but will try to further make up for lost time at the Punchestown festival in three weeks time.

"That was more like it. He is back to the horse we thought he was. He had a couple of problems but has come back well and the better ground helped," said Mullins, who gave an upbeat report on Alexander Banquet.

"The others I'll have at Liverpool probably will be Boneyarrow and Ballyamber in the novice hurdles, It's Time For A Win in the John Hughes and Florida Pearl.

"At first glance the Martell Cup rather than the Melling Chase looks the better option for Florida Pearl and they say you should always go with your first impression," he said.

Mullins doubled up with the favourite Joueur D'Estruval who won a hot-looking bumper from a pretty unpromising position at half way.

"He must be way better than I thought because it looked a helluva bumper beforehand," Mullins said of his French purchase.

There was a 14 to 1 upset in the opening chase where Daisy Duggan rode her first winner, on her first ride over fences, on Native Beat.

The 26-year-old amateur beat off the Norman Williamson-ridden Young Whack by five lengths after the favourite Topacio fell when challenging at the second last. Sadly, Topacio was fatally injured in the fall.

"This was supposed to be a spin for the four-mile race over banks at Punchestown," reported Native Beat's trainer John Fowler. "Daisy has done everything with this horse and he will go for that banks race next."

Paul Carberry successfully returned from injury on Fnan in the conditions hurdle, the Noel Meade-trained winner powering away from the favourite Bob Justice on the run-in.

There was no contest for the easiest winner of the afternoon as Rheindross was barely out of first gear to land the novice handicap chase in a canter. "They went too fast in front and played into our hands," said Arthur Moore. "He is a big baby who is getting his act together and he had a lung infection when he ran at Limerick."