Racing: Aitmatov breezed to Listed honours on his seasonal debut in the Ryan's Cleaning Services Hurdle at Punchestown.
Noel Meade's six-year-old won many allies as a novice last term and looks to have grown in strength and stature judged by his easy four-and-a-half-length defeat of Hide The Evidence.
Sent off the 11-4 second-favourite, Aitmatov's cause was arguably aided by Sizing Europe, the market leader, falling two out.
In any event, Paul Carberry's mount still appeared to have all bases covered and waltzed home under minimum pressure.
Meade said: "He is a lovely horse. We schooled him over fences but he didn't like it so we'll stay hurdling with him.
"He'll go for conditions hurdles and is the type who could go to England for a two-and-a-half-mile race.
"I thought he might need it today but I thought he was going to win anyway (when Sizing Europe fell)."
The Co Meath trainer dominated the start of the meeting after Silverhand landed the opening maiden hurdle at odds of 25-1.
Knight Legend cashed in on Forget The Past's 11th-hour withdrawal to win the Grade Three Star "Best For Racing Coverage" Chase.
Michael O'Brien scratched his runner on account of the drying conditions, which clearly held no terrors for Jessica Harrington's scorer.
This two-mile-six-furlong event was landed by War Of Attrition the last two seasons and it is highly unlikely Knight Legend will scale those Gold Cup-winning heights.
He still did the job nicely, however, with a bloodless all-the-way success in the hands of Barry Geraghty.
Runner-up Central House could not get close to the even-money winner, who had 11 lengths in reserve at the line.
"That was straightforward," said Harrington. "He stayed well and jumped well and Barry said he was lovely and relaxed. It's a nice race to pick up, but we are not sure where we'll go next.
"Both owners live in England so it's possible we could go there. There's a race at Ascot for second-season novice chasers, so that might be an option."