< Kauto Star ultimately stamped his class on the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, despite Sizing Europe and China Rock making him work for top honours.
Paul Nicholls' remarkable performer, last seen taking a crashing fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, jumped quickly and travelled well for Ruby Walsh but he was niggled along when the two young pretenders pressed him four from home.
China Rock looked the main threat approaching two out but the 4-7 favourite found his trademark turn of foot and went clear, with Sizing Europe running on for a four-length second after a spring-heeled jump at the last.
Nicholls and Walsh claimed Grade Two honours in the very next race as The Nightingale put in an exhibition round of jumping in the Ladbrokes.com Chase.
His task was made easier when Noel Meade's Pandorama was withdrawn at the start of the race having been made to canter in front of the vet.
The Nightingale did it in fine style, however, thrashing Roberto Goldback by 11 lengths at odds of 3-1.
Walsh's afternoon took a serious turn for the worse when he was taken to hospital following a crunching fall from Corrick Bridge in the Rainbow Telecom Handicap Chase, which went the way of Darling Harbour (10-1).
The opening A. Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle went to Meade's 11-4 favourite Monstrell, while Kyoto Summit (14-1), trained by Maura McGuinness, made a decisive move three from home and stayed on strongly under Adrian Heskin to claim the Tayto Group Handicap Hurdle by four lengths from Ferry Point
Heskin was narrowly denied a double just half an hour later on Kilbrannish Hill when Montan (6-1), trained by Tony Martin and ridden by Niall Madden, claimed the Billecart-Salmon Handicap Hurdle.< Bayross (33-1) beat Lady Olwyn by a length and a quarter to land the concluding Mirror INH Flat Race.
