Red-hot favourite Douvan was predictably far too good for his rivals in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was a prohibitively priced 1-6 market leader following a scintillating victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and Ruby Walsh had matters in hand from the outset.
Velocity Boy cut out the early running, tracked by Sizing John, with Douvan positioned in third.
The former began to feel the pinch from the home turn, leaving Sizing John to lead Douvan, but Walsh sat motionless aboard the Mullins runner before easing to the front approaching the final flight.
He was soon away and gone on the run-in and passed the post with plenty in hand.
Sizing John, runner-up behind Douvan at Gowran Park earlier in the season and third in the Supreme, was once again put in his place, but ran another fine race in second.
Mullins said: "He could be anything. He's way more efficient jumping than Faugheen ever was, or is, and that from a novice is extraordinary, really.
"I can't wait to get him over a fence but I'll have to chat to connections.
"Rich (Ricci, owner) has Faugheen for the Champion Hurdle but it's a nice problem to have.
"On the ground I felt he was as good as at Cheltenham. I didn't know how he'd be in the first mile but he handled it very well.
"Some hurdles you didn't even notice him come off the ground - when Ruby gave him a squeeze he flicked into overdrive.
"He has to be as good as we've ever had. He's not a Hurricane Fly type, he's a chaser."
Douvan is the general 3-1 favourite for the Arkle Trophy at next year's Cheltenham Festival, but Mullins said: "We'll put him away now and decide whether he'll stay hurdling or go chasing.
"It looks like he should go chasing, but the way he jumps hurdles he looks like a real decent hurdler."
Live coverage of The Punchestown Festival on RTÉ One from 4pm to 6pm, continuing on RTÉ2 from 6pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Friday and on RTÉ2 from 3pm to 6pm on Saturday.
