Ballyward ran out a wide-margin winner in a dramatic renewal of the Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase.
Willie Mullins' seven-year-old looked set to have a real battle on his hands approaching the final fence in the Grade Three event alongside Paul Nolan's Discorama, only for the latter to take a crashing fall.
While both Discorama and Bryan Cooper escaped unscathed, it robbed the race of the exciting finish it deserved as a handful of promising novices were involved.
Henry de Bromhead's Chris's Dream attempted to make all for Robbie Power and was still in front approaching the home turn, where the challengers looked menacing.
They included Gordon Elliott's Champagne Classic, not seen since winning at the Punchestown Festival in 2017 and who unsurprisingly just got tired close home having made a pleasing comeback.
It boiled down to who could jump the last best and whereas Ruby Walsh got a good leap out of Willie Mullins' Ballyward [7-2], Discorama hit the deck, allowing Chris's Dream to claim second.
Mullins said: "I'm delighted with that considering it was just his second run over fences. Whether we give him another run over a shorter trip for experience before Cheltenham I'm not sure.
"I'd imagine the RSA will be the race for him. He has lots of stamina and seems to jump well enough."
Walsh added: "There was plenty of form in the race and Champagne Classic ran a cracker after so long off.
"He wasn't doing a lot in front, but it was a good run and I'm sure his trainer will be thinking of crossing the sea [for Cheltenham].
"He'd improved a good bit for his first run and he had decent form over hurdles in the Albert Bartlett and at Punchestown."
Joseph O'Brien saddled his second smart juvenile to victory in the space of 48 hours as Konitho ran out a ready winner of the BetVictor Maiden Hurdle.
Making his Irish debut having run in a French Grade Three on his last outing, he travelled supremely well throughout for JJ Slevin.
Slevin made sure he grabbed the rail running to the last, forcing Paul Townend to switch on the favourite Runrized, and Konitho [8-1] breezed clear to win by five lengths from the staying-on Lethal Steps.
O'Brien said: "He was working well at home, but it was a bit of a surprise that he won like that. JJ said he jumped fantastic and he felt comfortable all the way. He's a fine, big horse and his three runs in France were a big help today.
"It's early days, but he'll have to have an entry in the Triumph.
"Leopardstown is only next week so will come too soon for him I think."
Regarding Saturday's Cheltenham winner Fakir D'Oudairies, O'Brien said: "You couldn't but be impressed with him, he was really impressive and jumped very well.
"JJ said he got to the front much earlier than planned, but he was going so easily. Obviously he'll head back to Cheltenham now.
"He actually ran over fences in France, which has obviously stood him in good stead.
"We'll run as many as we can at Leopardstown, and there is also a graded race at Fairyhouse, so we'll see how things are after that."
