Punchestown: Alan King's Blazing Bailey ran out an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes.com Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon to follow up his success at Aintree.
The six-year-old, who finally beat his nemesis Inglis Drever at Liverpool, simply outstayed his rivals.
The likes of Venalmar, Catch Me and Cooldine all held major chances turning into the straight but dropped away one by one.
Robert Thornton was one of the first jockeys to pick up the whip but the 100-30 favourite kept on finding more coming down the stretch.
In the end it was last year's winner Refinement who posed the biggest test, but Blazing Bailey gamely ran all the way to the line to win by seven lengths, with Aitmatov third.
King said: "Choc (Thornton) said it was hard work today, but he wasn't seeing much light down the inside. I was a bit worried turning in, but he went and powered away and that is just him.
"He is a little grinder and is a marvellous horse to train. He is very special. He has never let me down all the way through. People keep saying to me that he isn't a Cheltenham horse, but he has a fair record around there. I don't think it matters where you take him as he won't let you down.
"He has only had one bad run first time out and to this day I don't know what went wrong at Cheltenham. I got it wrong making the running with him at Newbury, but he hasn't looked back since then.
"We have bumped into Inglis Drever a couple of times and we know we can't beat him when he is in top form, but this is a special day.
"Until we know that he can't be competitive in these races then he won't jump a fence. He is only six and there is no rush. The blinkers will come off, certainly for is first run back next season, as I am not convinced about the blinkers."
Big Zeb's game efforts through the season were rewarded with a Grade One victory in the Cathal Ryan Memorial Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
Colm Murphy's seven-year-old was trying two miles for the first time this term and the drop in trip suited him down to the ground.
J'y Vole and Perce Rock paid the price for setting a fierce pace up front and were spent forces by the time the second-last loomed large, setting the finish up for something in behind.
Barry Geraghty took the initiative soon after and cajoled the 4-1 winner - who had been placed in top company on his last two outings - along through the final furlong to hold off Thyne Again by four lengths.
Murphy said: "I am delighted with the horse as he deserved one.
"We have been learning about him all year. He didn't get home over two miles five furlongs so we dropped him back to two and a half.
"Two miles in a fast-run race suits him well and things worked out today, although he didn't jump as well as he can over the shorter trip.
"He is still a big baby and we'll see where we go next year and let him do the talking."
Cashmans trimmed Big Zeb into 20-1 from 50s for the Champion Chase, and Murphy added: "We will try and pick up a few races early on and see where we are.
"He is still a long way off the finished article and although we can dream, he does need to improve."
Ferdy Murphy's lofty opinion of Supreme Novices' fourth Kalahari King was repaid as the seven-year-old scooted to a two-and-a-half-length success in the Aon Hurdle.
Turned out just five days after finishing third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, the 5-1 co-favourite sprinted clear on the run-in under Davy Russell for a deserved victory.
Murphy said: "The extra half-mile has made all the difference and Davy said every time he went for him that he was there.
"He's a lovely horse and is improving, but he's finished for the season now. Tony Dobbin said after the Supreme that we'd be mad not to aim for the Arkle next year."
Enda Bolger's domination of the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort La Touche Cup Chase came to an end as Oh Jackie and Ken Whelan produced a 25-1 shock.
The 10-year-old mare proved two lengths too good for 9-4 favourite Wonderkid at the end of the marathon event, with Bolger's Freneys Well rallying for fourth.
Winning trainer Stuart Crawford said: "I have trained a few point-to-point winners but this is my first as a trainer, and to do it like this is amazing!
"We'll have to consider all of these races for next season and look at Cheltenham too after she has won in that company."
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh continued their good run of form at the meeting as Irish Invader landed the odds as 3-1 favourite in the One 51 Handicap Chase.
Mullins said: "He will keep going over the summer and go to Galway and the big festivals."
Results
2.30 AON Hurdle
1st Kalahari King (FR) 5/1 CFav
2nd Boulavogue (IRE) 16/1
3rd Peplum (FR) 20/1
24 Ran
3.05 Avon Ri La Touche Cup Chase
1st Oh Jackie (IRE) 25/1
2nd Wonderkid (GB) 9/4 JFav
3rd A New Story (IRE) 5/1
22 Ran
3.40 Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase
1st Big Zeb (IRE) 4/1
2nd Thyne Again (IRE) 10/3
3rd J'y Vole (FR) 3/1F
4th Wishwillow Lord (IRE) 11/1
7 Ran
4.15 One 51 Handicap Chase
1st Irish Invader (IRE) 3/1F
2nd Callow Lake (IRE) 16/1
3rd Torrid Kentavr (USA) 14/1
4th Eye Candy (IRE) 12/1
13 Ran
4.50 Ladbrokes.com Hurdle
1st Blazing Bailey (GB) 10/3F
2nd Refinement (IRE) 8/1
3rd Aitmatov (GER) 6/1
12 Ran
5.25 Real Estate Alliance Handicap
Hurdle
1st Hidden Agent (IRE) 9/1
2nd Gusda (IRE) 33/1
3rd Silent Creek (IRE) 25/1
4th Drumconvis (IRE) 5/1F
25 Ran
6.00 Masterchefs Hospitality (Pro-Am) Flat
Race
1st Go Native (IRE) 16/1
2nd Lord Over (GB) 9/1
3rd Kenlon (IRE) 25/1
4th Uimhiraceathair (IRE) 2/1F
25 Ran