Sir Des Champs made a successful return from a near two-year absence in the Boomerang Animal Bedding And Boomerang Horse & Country Store Chase at Thurles.
A dual Cheltenham Festival winner and runner-up to Bobs Worth in the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the nine-year-old had been sidelined by injury since finishing fourth behind the same horse in that year's Lexus Chase.
Willie Mullins' charge was nonetheless the 11-10 favourite as he enjoyed a significant drop in grade for this two-and-three-quarter-mile Listed event.
Rubi Light jumped and travelled well throughout, while Sir Des Champs had to be cajoled along at various stages by Bryan Cooper.
However, the picture changed significantly from the home turn and with Rubi Light's earlier exertions beginning to take their toll, the Mullins runner reeled him in and picked up from the final fence to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
Cooper said: "We said beforehand he was going to need the run and he was asleep early doors.
"It was my first time riding him in a race and I wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing, but I suppose he was saving plenty all the way round.
"What I loved was from when he turned out the back he really got into gear and showed there's still life in him, definitely.
"Turning in, I was always confident I was going to get to Andrew (Lynch, on Rubi Light) and all he can do is improve.
"He's an exciting three-mile chaser to have again.
"He gave me the feel that the spark is still there."
Mullins said: "I'm very happy with that.
"He loves racing like that and it took him a mile and a half, or two miles, to warm up.
"That's his style of racing and he gives much more on the final third of his races.
"He was getting all the allowances and had his trip and ground.
"He hasn't given me a moment's worry since he came back but I didn't work him for this race.
"He's in everything, but the John Durkan (Punchestown) might come too soon. He'll probably run in the Lexus next."
"She has a fair engine, but I don't know where she'll go next" - Willie Mullins was non-committal on plans for exciting prospect Myska after her win
Ttebbob cruised clear in the hands of Robbie Power to run out an emphatic winner of an eventful www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase.
The long-absent Moyle Park was the 9-10 favourite for his chasing debut and first start since finishing third in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown almost two years ago, but the saddle slipped on the Willie Mullins-trained gelding and he was pulled up by Ruby Walsh.
It soon got worse for the champion trainer, with Net D'Ecosse coming to grief, and Jessica Harrington's Ttebbob soon took the initiative and opened up a big lead on the rest of the field.
All Hell Let Loose closed the gap in the straight, but Power remained motionless on the run to the final fence and Ttebbob skipped over to seal an impressive six-length success.
"I have been looking forward to that for a while. He schooled on his own at Punchestown on Monday and was very good and my only worry today was if other horses took him on over the first few fences," said Harrington.
"I know he has won over three miles but he has plenty speed and he (Power) took him back after the third-last and also between the last two.
"He'll run in a Grade Three novice chase at Navan on 6 December and will then probably stick to two miles at Christmas.
"I'd rather keep to that trip than bottom him out, but he'll end up over two and a half."
Mullins revealed Moyle Park was "very sore" after hitting the fence hard, but was hopeful of no lasting damage.
He said: "He is very sore and hit the fence with his hind quarters. He has probably pulled ligaments and if it was bone (damage) he'd be getting more sore by the minute, but he walked off to the box.
"He was sore, but I'm hoping it was muscle or ligament."
Roman Gold mowed down fellow Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner Just Cause to take top honours in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Rated Novice Hurdle.
Bryan Cooper rousted 2-1 favourite Just Cause to the front rounding the home turn, but the Jack Kennedy-ridden Roman Gold (7-2) travelled well in behind and quickened up to take the lead approaching the final flight.
There was only one winner on the run-in as Gordon Elliott's charge pulled decisively clear by six lengths.
Elliott said: "He was getting the allowances and had Jack's 5lb claim.
"I was a bit worried about him staying the trip but Jack gave him a nice ride and got him settled.
"He'll more than likely go straight over fences now."
Clonmel bumper winner Myska made a seamless transition to the jumping game with an impressive display in the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The Mullins-trained five-year-old beat a trio of subsequent winners on her racecourse introduction in April and was unsurprisingly a prohibitively priced 4-7 favourite for her hurdling bow.
Walsh cut a confident figure in the saddle throughout and eased the market leader towards the front end before the home turn.
Princess Lir refused to go down without a fight after the final hurdle, but Myska had a lot more to give as she passed the post a length and three-quarters to the good, completing doubles on the day for Mullins and Walsh following the earlier victory of Sir Des Champs.
Walsh said: "She was very green and a bit buzzy early on. She was green jumping-wise and I'm sure she'll improve a bit for that.
"She's lots of ability and I suppose our only doubt was the trip. She was to run in a two-mile mares' maiden hurdle in Wexford, but it was called off.
"She got home today anyway and she'll have learnt plenty."
Mullins said: "That's not her ideal trip and she pulled too hard and was novicey.
"I'm hoping there's lots of improvement from her over shorter trips and she needed that bit of experience.
"She has a fair engine, but I don't know where she'll go next; I'll look for a mares' novice hurdle somewhere."
