Big Zeb made a glorious seasonal reappearance when winning the Friends of Navan Fortria Chase for the second year running.
Last seen winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, Colm Murphy's tip-top performer blew away the cobwebs in pleasing fashion.
Barry Geraghty was content to let Carthalawn do the donkey work without letting him get further than a couple of lengths in front of the 8-15 favourite.
The lead was down to just a length in the straight and although Carthalawn jumped the last in front, Big Zeb took it up on the run-in to score cosily by a length and a quarter.
Golden Silver made good late progress to take second place, with Joncol last of the four runners.
William Hill left Big Zeb unchanged at 3-1 to retain his crown in the Champion Chase next March.
‘It's more of a relief than anything because of the ground as he's definitely better on good ground,’ said Murphy.
‘It's not ideal running on ground as heavy as that but it's a case of getting a run into him.
‘I'm delighted with the way he jumped, and feel he's growing up a bit and is stronger, more mature and settling better in his races.
‘He'll go next for the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.’
Geraghty was completing a double having earlier won on Our Girl Salley (3-1) in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle for Prunella Dobbs.
Oscar Dan Dan took advantage of Aitmatov's final-flight fall to land the Lismullen Hurdle.
Aitmatov had set out to make all in his bid to take this Grade Two contest for the second year running and was proving a nut tough to crack.
He was still in front when he came to grief under Davy Condon, who had stepped in for the ride after Noel Meade's stable jockey Paul Carberry had been injured when brought down on Jetson in the opening maiden hurdle.
The exit of 7-4 favourite Aitmatov left the Tom Mullins-trained Oscar Dan Dan (11-4) and Paul Townend to go on and win by four lengths from Jumbo Rio.
Mullins said: ‘It's funny how things turn around as he fell in this race last year when it looked like he'd win.
‘I hope the soft ground will not have taken too much out of him as he'll line up for the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse in three weeks.
‘I'm surprised he ran as well as he did coming off a break. The favourite falling obviously made it easier but Paul felt he had the winning of the race anyway.’
John Hanlon's Hidden Cyclone maintained his unbeaten record with a smooth success in the ‘For Auction’ Novice Hurdle.
Taken to the lead three out by Andrew McNamara, the 13-8 favourite pulled away from his rivals to win by six lengths from Hazeymm.
‘I've always said from day one that I think the world of this horse,’ said Hanlon.
‘His jumping was a bit sticky but Andrew said that when they go quicker that he'll jump better.
‘I hope he's right as he'll need to jump better if he's to go for the top novice races. He needs at least two and a half miles.’
Trainer Gordon Elliott enjoyed a brace with Cayo Levantado (12-1) landing the Troytown November 21st Handicap Hurdle and Eight Is My Number (8-1) taking the concluding Dunderry Irish National Hunt Flat Race.
