Sports Line justified all the chat about him in recent times when putting up an excellent performance on his chase debut in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.

A well-backed 5/6 favourite, the Norwich gelding made all under Ruby Walsh. The only moment of anxiety for those that invested in Willie Mullins' six-year-old came when he made a mistake at the third last.

However that didn’t do anything to halt the Norwich gelding's momentum and he went on to see off Solstice Knight in great style by nine lengths.

Mullins, completing a double, after the big success of Beroni in the Troytown, said: "He looks a lovely prospect. He is a little bit hyper but he is a great jumper. I've viewed him as an Arkle Chase horse and he done nothing out there to change my view.

"Because of all the wind, he wore ear-plugs today, to help him relax. He's unlikely to run again before the Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown on St. Stephen's Day."

Ladbrokes go 14/1 from 20/1 about Sports Line for the Arkle. William Hill have him on the same price.