“This is undoubtedly the best four-year-old hurdle of the year” said Nicky Henderson before the Grade 1 AES Champion 4YO Hurdle in Punchestown. Abbyssial tanked along at the head of proceedings and powered away from the second last to score by six and a half lengths with Ruby Walsh doing the steering. Abbyssial fell at the second hurdle in the Triumph Hurdle on his previous racecourse appearance. This was the fall that caused Walsh’s broken arm at Cheltenham.

Ruby Walsh said: “He looks a chaser. I imagine he’ll be going back to Auteuil tomorrow fortnight or tomorrow five weeks. He’s been doing unbelievable work at home and has turned into a horse with gears. I think it’s fair to say he owed me that! He’s still a bit quirky and babyish. He’ll make a smashing chaser.”

Owner Archie O’Leary added: “He looks very good and looks like he could make a good chaser next year. He looks a very promising animal. I told Ruby to make sure he stayed on him this time and I got a very rude reply!”

Willie Mullins said: “It was a fantastic performance and you would wonder what he would have done if he had stood up at Cheltenham. I was very pleased with his final piece of work during the week. It was one of the best bits ever although I thought the ground was getting a bit too dry for him.

“Ruby made use of his stamina. He’ll probably go to France for their version of the triumph Hurdle. He’s a chaser for the future. The way he jumps he’ll probably go that way next season.”

Boylesports introduced Abbyssial into betting for the Arkle at 14/1. The four-year-old was returned today at 15/2 while Plinth was second at 25/1 and Fox Norton took third at 12s. Well backed 13/8 favourite Tiger Roll weakened before the last in finishing seventh.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee