Racing:Sizing Europe proved much good for his rivals as he ran away with the Sportingbet Tingle Creek at Sandown.
The Arkle Trophy and Champion Chase hero was coming back to two miles after being narrowly beaten in testing ground over three miles at Down Royal last month and he looked much more comfortable in the hands of Andrew Lynch.
Jumping with the verve that was the highlight of his two notable Cheltenham victories, the 11-8 favourite flew the Railway Fences and he was vying for the lead soon before the turn for home.
Kauto Stone, a half-brother to dual Tingle Creek winner Kauto Star and another coming back in distance, also travelled easily and fenced fluently and was the only one able to stick with Sizing Europe when the pace quickened.
But Henry de Bromhead’s stable star got the better of the argument coming towards the second last and produced another couple of exuberant leaps to seal an eight-length triumph.
Wishfull Thinking was also dropping back to two miles after running exuberantly in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and weakening, and it was a very similar display this time.
Richard Johnson once again sent the free-going chestnut into a big lead but while he jumped well for the first half of the race, he was a spent force a long way from the finish.
Lynch said: “They went a good gallop and he got into a nice rhythm. He travelled well and jumped super. He’s a horse who can run over any trip and he will run his heart out, but two miles is probably his ideal trip.
“He ran on heavy ground at home and it’s a lot worse there than here. I wasn’t too worried about the ground.”
De Bromhead said: “That was brilliant. He jumped the second down the back a bit slow and that got me a little worried, but he winged the fence six from home and started to canter when the rest were struggling. It was phenomenal and apart from that one mistake, he was brilliant.
“The plan was always to bring him here for his Christmas run and then take him back to Cheltenham to try to win the Queen Mother again.
“He had his prep race for that at Punchestown last year and I see no reason why we shouldn’t go back for that again - if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
“I wouldn’t rule out going three miles again and that’s maybe something we’ll consider after Cheltenham where we will stick to two miles.
“I felt a lot of pressure coming here as the hot favourite whereas in the Queen Mother we came in under the radar.”
Al Ferof was made to pull out all the stops to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
Last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner was sent off the 4-11 favourite to supplement a most impressive chasing debut at Cheltenham and Ruby Walsh cut a confident figure throughout the two-mile Grade One.
Jumping with great fluency throughout, the Paul Nicholls-trained grey quickened to lead rounding the turn for home and it appeared a question of how far the winning margin would be.
However, Noel Fehily had still not gone for everything in behind on For Non Stop and a fine leap at the last brought him almost upsides the market leader.
The two fought it out up the hill but Al Ferof was always doing enough to maintain the advantage, passing the post with a neck to spare.
Walsh said: “He jumped amazing and when we were racing across to the Pond Fence he was really taking me and he pinged that, but when he landed in front he’s just got a bit idle.
“In fairness to Noel, he’s ridden him and he knows him, so he was leaving it as late as he could. He’s a cracking horse and winning a Grade One can only enhance his reputation.”