Rippling Ring tarnished his lofty reputation with a flat display behind French Opera at Aintree's first meeting of the season.
Paul Nicholls' South African import was fifth in this year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and disappointingly filled the same position in the intercasino.co.uk Handicap.
The 8-15 favourite looked to have followed the script to the letter, having made smooth progress close to the pace initiated by French Opera (5-1).
But Ruby Walsh's mount found little under pressure and came nowhere near to matching the finishing kick of the Nicky Henderson-trained winner, who defeated Dishdasha by two and three-quarter lengths.
Nicholls said: ‘It's disappointing when they run like that without apparently any excuses.’
Jockey Marcus Foley said of French Opera: ‘He can be very keen in his races and Mick (Fitzgerald) told me to get him settled.
‘Turning in, I knew he would pick up for me - it was very professional.’
