In Compliance made War Of Attrition live up to his name when holding the late thrust of the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase yesterday.
Mouse Morris had warned the testing ground would be far from ideal for the champion, and so it proved, although the seven-year-old did his prospects of back-to-back blue ribands no harm in going down fighting by two and a half lengths.
Boylesports left him unchanged at 4 to 1 for the showpiece event next March, while Paddy Power cut him into 7 to 2 and Cashmans 4 to 1 from 9 to 2.
Conversely, William Hill eased Conor O'Dwyer's mount out to 4 to 1 from 7 to 2, while slashing the Michael O'Brien-trained In Compliance into 6 to 1 from 14s.
Others were more cautious, with Blue Square going 8 to 1, Paddy Power 10s and Cashmans 12 to 1 after laying him at 14s post-race. Barry Geraghty had never been far from War Of Attrition aboard the 5 to 1 winner, settling his mount in mid-division for most of the two-and-a-half-mile race before taking closer order at the fourth-last. In Compliance and War Of Attrition, sent off the 2 to 1 favourite, were clear soon after but a spectacular leap from the former three out propelled him clear.
Despite a brave effort from the runner-up, who was switched to the inner on the run-in, In Compliance held too many guns and stayed on strongly to land a notable victory. The first two pulled nine lengths clear of 40 to 1 chance Sher Beau, who claimed a highly-respectable third.
The winner is now unbeaten in two starts this winter and O'Brien said: "He has finally come of age. The ground wouldn't have suited War Of Attrition but our fellow goes on any ground.
"I hoped he would step up to the mark and become a Gold Cup horse so we can concentrate on the Grand National with Forget The Past (third in last year's Gold Cup). We will wait a few days and decide if he goes for the King George, but I'd say it is unlikely as the logistics don't appeal and it is only two weeks away.
"My inclination is he will go for the Lexus Chase at Christmas and then perhaps on to the Pillar at Cheltenham in January.
"He reminds me a lot of Kauto Star, though, as he jumps so well and has so much speed - he wouldn't be out of place in the Champion Chase."
Geraghty added: "This was a step up in class and on the day my fellow was very good. He jumped well and I think this is as good a Gold Cup trial as there has been."
Morris said of War of Attrition: "I am not disappointed. He doesn't jump as well as he can in that ground, but we knew that beforehand."
O'Dwyer was also upbeat, and added: "You can't be disappointed under the circumstances. He jumped well enough, but he just isn't himself in those conditions and he was never in love with the ground."
Morris and O'Dwyer were on the mark earlier in the opening Benson Burger Express Maiden Hurdle as Shanghide (7 to 2) got the better of the staying-on Tony McCoy-ridden Final Orders by a head in a bobbing finish.
Morris said: "He would like better ground but he is a nice type who I have been bringing along slowly. I will take him to Leopardstown at Christmas now, where there are a couple of races he could run in."
Grade One bumper winner Leading Run lost again over timber when pipped by Turtle Dubh in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle. Noel Meade's gigantic seven-year-old was beaten at Naas last month.
The Paul Carberry-ridden 4 to 9 favourite could not go with Turtle Dubh when he kicked for home, and the 4 to 1 winner had plenty over the final couple of flights to beat the market leader by a cosy three and a half lengths. Trainer Dusty Sheehy said: "He was always holding the favourite and we will take him to Leopardstown over Christmas now for the Paddy Power Novice Hurdle."
