Rule Supreme upset the odds when easily overturning previous form with a comprehensive defeat of hot favourite Beef Or Salmon in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
The 8/15 favourite 'scoped dirty' (upper respiratory tract infection) afterwards but that shouldn't take away from a great performance by the Willie Mullins-trained winner.
Rule Supreme, beaten in third behind Beef Or Salmon when falling at the last here in the Lexus Chase at Christmas, showed no signs of the jumping errors that have dogged him in the past.
Pizarro made a number of mistakes before falling five out, with Paul Carberry doing well aboard Beef Or Salmon to avoid the casualty.
The race developed into a match between Rule Supreme and Beef or Salmon from two out, with David Casey's mount holding a slight advantage at the last before drawing clear to score by 14L.
'This has always been a lucky race for us,' said Mullins, who was saddling the winner of the three miles contest for the sixth time in the past seven years.
Mullins added, 'David gets on really well with this horse. I've no doubt that he has a huge engine but his jumping is not always the best.'
'We were planning to go for the World Hurdle but I'll have to talk to the owners now before deciding what we do. I've always thought that if you have a horse with half a chance of winning a Gold Cup then you should go for it.'
'He would love the extra distance of the Gold Cup and, while ground doesn't seem to make a difference to him, I think soft suits as it slows the pace down.'
'We will probably leave him in both races at Cheltenham until the last minute.'
Sean Graham go a top-priced 14/1 Rule Supreme for the Gold Cup, while Beef Or Salmon has been eased considerably with Ladbrokes going 12/1 (from 6's).
Most firms offer Rule Supreme 'with-a-run' for the World Hurdle, with Paddy Power going 6/1.
Jessica Harrington has an embarrassment of riches in the novice chase brigade this season and, following the 'Arkle' success of Ulaan Baatar here a fortnight ago, she completed a 1-2 in the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase.
Carrigeen Victor captured the Grade 1 event under Robert Power but only after a protracted battle with stablemate Well Presented as the pair went clear from two out.
Market rivals Mark The Man and Newmill dropped out quickly at this point, and both were found to have an upper respiratory tract infection on examination post-race.
Neither of Mrs Harrington's charges are engaged at the Cheltenham Festival but the Powers Gold Cup is a likely target for the winner while Well Presented may be aimed at the Midlands National.
'I think Carrigeen Victor will be better on good ground as he's such a lovely mover, while Ulaan Baatar will run again for more practice at Navan next Sunday,' she said.
Tom Foley saddled his first Grade 1 winner since Danoli when Royal Paradise landed the Deloitte Novice Hurdle in typically tough and determined fashion.
Mick Fitzgerald's mount joined issue with the front-running Sweet Kiln three out, and kept on well after setting sail for home off the final bend to beat The Railway Man by three lengths.
The Bagenalstown trainer reflected afterwards that 'the Danoli years passed quicker than we thought, and I'm really looking forward to going back to Cheltenham again.'
He added, 'He's in both novice hurdles at Cheltenham but I think the owner had a few pound on for the SunAlliance so he will probably go there.'
'To have any chance at Cheltenham we had to win today. Better ground should be a help as I think he'll jump better on it,' said Foley.
Strangely Brown left Limerick trainer Eric McNamara also dreaming of Cheltenham glory after maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles with a gutsy display in the Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle.
The sponsors cut his price for the Triumph Hurdle from 25/1 down to 14/1 after coming from last to first in the straight to provide David Casey with his first winner back after a broken leg.
The Second Empire gelding got a nice run up the inner at the final flight, and stayed on bravely to beat Barati by two lengths with Arch Rebel holding every chance 3 1/2L further back in third.
'We were hoping that he would be good enough and he's climbing up the ladder. He's entitled to a shot at the Triumph after that, and he stays all day.'
'He's won on good-firm on the Flat but all his runs for me have been with plenty of cut,' added McNamara, who was at pains to credit claimer Brian Byrnes for getting him jumping well.
Odds-on punters suffered another reverse in the hunter chase as Never Compromise (8/13) lost the lead with a mistake four out, and could find no extra in the straight behind 8L winner Lord Of The Turf.
Escrea quickened up nicely in the straight to land the mares handicap hurdle for John Cullen and Paul Nolan, while Beechcourt (Barry Geraghty) also stretched clear from the last in the 2m handicap hurdle.
Clew Bay Cove (16/1, paid 136.60 on the Tote) proved a shock winner of the bumper, holding on by four lengths from the strong-finishing newcomer O'Muircheartaigh.
Alan Magee
