Aramon ran out a dominant winner of the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins had saddled four previous winners of the Grade One contest - including each of the last three - and this year had readied a twin assault.
Having finished third behind stablemate Quick Grabim in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse on his latest outing, Aramon was a 6-1 chance in the hands of Ruby Walsh, with stablemate Sancta Simona a better-fancied 5-2 chance under Barry Geraghty.
Walsh settled Aramon at the rear of the six-strong field for much of the two-mile journey, but was travelling powerfully in behind the leaders rounding the home turn.
Once the gap came, the five-year-old joined Sancta Simona for the lead at the final flight and fairly shot clear on the run-in, coming home with 10 lengths in hand. Tintangle was three lengths further back in third.
Willie Mullins' Aramon takes the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at #Leopardstown under Ruby Walsh #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/xlWTJbacjq
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 27, 2018
