Don Cossack's star remains firmly in the ascendancy after he secured another handsome victory in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Gordon Elliott's Gold Cup contender added another Grade One to his increasingly impressive CV with a typically commanding performance.
Bryan Cooper's companion glided into the lead four fences from home, after Rocky Creek and Roi Du Mee had jousted for the lead for a long way, and the race was essentially over.
The 2-11 favourite ended up winning by eight lengths from Rocky Creek but Don Cossack was never really out of first gear - even though he got a shade close to a few fences.
"He would have to improve on that run again but we know there is plenty of improvement there" - Gordon Eliott
Cooper said: "He was a little lazy and wasn't really in love with the ground, but I was always confident.
He keeps stepping up. Bryan said he never came out of second gear but, at the same time, he never took hold of the bridle. He only had a school around.
"He's a fair horse. I just thought if Bryan let him lengthen we would have seen the real him but all he could do was win.
"I've never been so nervous about a horse. "You see him there, he wasn't even doing a stroke. He never put him into second gear and he was just doing what he had to do."
"He would have to improve on that run again but we know there is plenty of improvement there and I think the better the race, the better he'll be. When you give him a squeeze and wake him up he starts to stretch. But Bryan never even gave him a squeeze there."
When asked about future plans, Elliott said: "Kempton (King George) and the Gold Cup and then Punchestown, if everything is OK. "He's a good horse, so we have to mind him.
"I wouldn't swap him for anything."
Elliott and Cooper kicked off the day with a comprehensive victory for French import Missy Tata in the Value Cabs 3-Y-O Hurdle.
Travelling ominously well approaching the second last, the even-money favourite skipped clear after that obstacle and kept on well to beat Lake Champlain by 19 lengths.
Elliott bagged his treble on the card when Nina Carberry eased Death Duty (1-2 favourite) to a cosy victory in the Daily Mirror (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Ptit Zig gave Paul Nicholls his seventh win in eight years in the Grade Two Powers Irish Whiskey Chase.
Sent off the 4-5 favourite to regain the crown Nicholls lost to Don Cossack last year, he had to be pushed along by Sam Twiston-Davies before the home turn, but he rounded the bend in a clear lead and kept that advantage, beating Clarcam by nine and a half lengths.
De Name Escapes Me justified 7-4 favouritism when battling to victory in the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meade's charge had to be rousted along by Mark Walsh to keep ahead of Space Cadet, but he was slicker over the last two flights, enabling him to secure a length success.
William Treacy's Fethard Player (7-1) shrugged off the steadier of top weight to win the Billecart-Salmon Handicap Hurdle in good style under Danny Mullins, beating Misty Lady by five lengths.
Sandra Hughes' Knockanarrigan (8-1) got back to winning ways with a gutsy victory under Brian Hayes in the Rainbow Communications Handicap Chase.
