Moscow Flyer delighted the packed grandstands at Punchestown today by putting in an exhibition round of jumping to take the Betdaq.com Champion Chase.
Always handy under Barry Geraghty, the 10-year-old took up the running four fences from home to run out a two-length winner and retain his remarkable unbeaten record over fences whenever he has completed the course.
The 4-11 favourite looked to have a fight on his hands when Rathgar Beau loomed large at the entrance to the straight, but Geraghty said afterwards: "He jumped brilliantly and after we took three out he was just dossing."
Moscow Flyer unseated Geraghty at the second-last in this race 12 months ago when looking the likely winner, but was faultless this time.
The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding has now won all his 14 completed starts over fences, including when stamping his authority on Isio over two and a half miles at Aintree at the beginning of the month.
"Barry said it was the nicest ride he has ever had from the horse in this country," said Harrington. "They went a good gallop and he was just switched off. That was a lovely finish to the season.
"We now know he goes at a variety of trips. We'll start off in a two-mile race at Navan in November which he won last year, and the King George is a very real possibility. But that will be a bit of a finding-out exercise."
Irish bookmaker Cashmans quote Moscow Flyer as a 5-1 shot for the King George VI Chase at Kempton next Christmas, but left him unchanged at 5-2 for Cheltenham's Champion Chase, in which he fell last month.
Runner-up Rathgar Beau's trainer Eamonn Sheehy said: "We're delighted with the run - the good ground helped him."
On a day that saw prolific winners continue in good order, Brave Inca followed up his Cheltenham Festival win by landing the Grade One Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
Brave Inca has won all five of his starts this term and once again had to dig deep to score. The six-year-old prevailed by a short head after a thrilling duel with English raider Royal Shakespeare.
"He is as tough as nails and never knows when to give up," jockey Barry Cash said of the 2-1 winner.
Lord Sam maintained his unbeaten record over fences when getting the better of an epic duel with Hi Cloy in the Ellier Developments Novice Chase.
Andrewjames caused an upset when landing the opening Kildare Hunt Club Chase for amateur rider Jeremy Cash.
Charlie Swan's Missindependence (14-1) cruised home in the Bewleys Hotels & EBF NH Fillies' Champion Bumper.