Willie Mullins landed an incredible sixth win in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park as Djakadam sauntered to victory.
Sent off favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, he appeared not to stay the trip that day but Mullins believed it was more to do with race fitness.
Always highly regarded, punter confidence in him apparently waned before the off as Tony Martin's Gallant Oscar overtook him at the head of the betting and he was sent off at 9-2 under top weight.
Jessica Harrington's Sadler'sflaure made a bold bid from the front, but with half a mile to run Ruby Walsh was edging closer on Djakadam.
A faller four out when still going well in the JLT at Cheltenham last year, he was foot perfect on this occasion.
The Job Is Right was his only danger in the straight and while he fell at the last, Walsh had still to ask for everything.
My Murphy stayed on for second to be beaten eight lengths, with Goonyella third and the 3-1 favourite Gallant Oscar fourth.
Afterwards, the winning trainer said: "It's fantastic to win the race six times. It took me long enough to win my first one. On His Own won this off top weight and was only just beaten in a Gold Cup so we'll have to think of going the same way with this horse.
"We always thought he could be a Gold Cup horse. It was probably an unfair question to ask him in the Hennessy on his first run of the season but we felt he was nicely handicapped.
"That race will take a fair bit out of him so he wouldn't run between now and Cheltenham. The way he travelled and jumped was great, and I don't think Ruby had a moment's worry."
The impressive winner was cut to a general price of 20-1 for the Betfred Gold Cup.
Meanwhile, Dedigout won a thrilling renewal of the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle from Monksland
The Mullins-Walsh-Ricci axis had a successful start to the afternoon when Dicosimo made an winning Irish debut in the Nugent Spirit 25 Horsebox Hurdle.
The French import was sent straight to the front by Walsh and although Thunder Zone and Prussian Eagle loomed up in the straight, the 4-6 favourite quickened clear nicely when asked the question and went on to score by seven and a half lengths from the latter.
The same connections had an odds-on shot in the Langton House Hotel Maiden Hurdle courtesy of Royal Caviar, but he had to settle for second behind Cliff House (9-2).
The favourite looked to be travelling best turning for home but had no answers when challenged by John Joe Walsh's runner, who scooted three and a half lengths clear in impressive fashion.
Mullins completed a treble when his son, Patrick, partnered Stone Hard (4-11fav) to an impressive 14-length victory over Shady Rondo in the closing P.J. Foley Memorial Flat Race.
The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle produced a pulsating finish, with Dick Dundee,trained by Paul Nolan winning from Maguire's Glen.
