Racing: Macs Joy turned the tables on Brave Inca to land the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Barry Geraghty.
Despite finishing behind Brave Inca on the previous five occasions that they have met, Geraghty always seemed to be travelling better than the champion and took up the running at the third-last.
Macs Joy swept into the lead and quickly put the issue beyond any doubt to claim a four-length victory over his old rival.
Former dual champion Hardy Eustace took the field along at a generous pace and seemed to be enjoying the quicker conditions.
However, Tony McCoy, riding the 4-5 favourite always seemed to be going slightly quicker than he would have liked.
He drew upsides Conor O'Dwyer on Hardy Eustace down the back straight but Geraghty had every move covered.
Despite previously finding Brave Inca a tough nut to crack, on this occasion he looked the likely winner from a long way out.
Harrington said: "Barry changed tactics a bit today. He knew that Hardy Eustace was going to make it and he said before the race to me 'don't be surprised if I'm in front at the second-last' and it really paid off.
"Our horse really appreciates this sort of ground and maybe Brave Inca didn't. But he really deserved this, he has been running very well and is such a tough horse.
"If he had only come fourth or fifth at Cheltenham then maybe we would have thought about going chasing with him. But he ran a great race to be second and he is not over-big, so at this stage of his career he will definitely be staying over hurdles.
"I don't know if he appreciates Cheltenham as much as Brave Inca or Hardy Eustace, but he loves it here and that was the most important thing today."
Colm Murphy was far from despondent, despite seeing his pride and joy come off second best.
"I'm thrilled and he's run a cracker but we've always said two miles around here might get him beat," the Co. Wexford handler said.
"Tony said he was never travelling but he was staying on towards the finish. All credit to Macs Joy. He'll go out to grass now, he deserves it and has had a serious year.
"The Champion Hurdle, without a doubt, will again be the aim and a stiff two miles is what he needs."
Nicanor followed up his Cheltenham Festival success in gritty style when taking the Grade One Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Novice Hurdle.
Noel Meade's five-year-old left plenty of long faces in Prestbury Park when flooring hot favourite Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle but was much better fancied this time.
The five-year-old was sent off the 9-10 favourite to complete a hat-trick but had to work hard in the closing stages to hold off 11-2 chance Mounthenry by a length.
"Ruby said that if he had sat there he would have never needed to come off the bridle," said Meade. "The horse gave him a fantastic feel and Ruby absolutely loved him.
"I was worried about the ground before the race because you can't take chances with a horse like this. Chasing has been the plan all along and I thought he might be a Gold Cup horse one day.
25-1 shot Olney Lad landed the betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase at Punchestown for Renee Robeson and Jimmy McCarthy, the first British success of the week at the Festival.
Involved in a duel with the Edward O'Grady-trained Wolf Creek for the last mile, none of the better fancied runners were ever able to land a blow as the bold jumping Olney Lad led the field a merry dance.
After McCarthy galvanised one final effort from the winner, he was able to pull one and a half lengths clear after the last. Irish Grand National runner-up Oulart was sent off the 100-30 favourite but could only finish third.