Wither Or Which, winner of the Cheltenham Festival Bumper in 1996, could return to that venue next month for the Citroen Supreme Novices' Hurdle after opening his hurdling account at Punchestown on Saturday.
The eight-year-old gelding, who jumped poorly when disappointing after a near three-year absence at Gowran Park a fortnight ago, was again far from fluent in the first division of the Ballintaggart Maiden Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh's mount was always close to the pace but had to be driven out from the last in the testing ground to beat The Dell by four lengths.
However, winning trainer Willie Mullins was upbeat afterwards, saying: "He took a long time to settle and, providing his jumping improves, I would have no worries about bringing him back to two miles."
Championship leader Walsh was completing a double, having earlier teamed up with his father, Ted, to take the Tynte Park Maiden Hurdle with Royal Signature.
Sporadic Missile also justified favouritism under Charlie Swan in the Red Bog EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle, and trainer Ger Hourigan intends turning the five-year-old out again at Clonmel on Thursday.
The Battlemount Flat Race was also split into two divisions to provide a seven-race card after the two chases were ruled out the previous weekend, with Levelander and Abacus both making successful debuts. Tony Mullins nominated Levelander, who impressively landed the first division by six lengths under Philip Fenton, as a possible for the Cheltenham Festival Bumper, while Edward O'Grady will keep Abacus for the Festival meeting back here in April.
Celibate is firmly on course for the Queen Mother Champion Chase following his victory in the Grade Two Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
Charlie Mann's eight-year-old put up a tenacious performance to see off Mulligan by two and a half lengths, earning a 12 to 1 quote from William Hill and Ladbrokes for next month's showpiece.
Mann was in bullish mood, having secured odds of 25 to 1 for Cheltenham before the win.
"I'm really surprised that everyone always seems to dismiss him," he declared.
"He's been to Cheltenham three times, won twice and been third in the Arkle."
