Abacadabras denied Willie Mullins a 10th successive win in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown as he beat Saint Roi by a neck in a thrilling finish.
Narrowly denied in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, Abacadabras was beaten on his return to action at Down Royal while County Hurdle winner Saint Roi had cruised to victory at Tipperary last month.
Sent off the 10-11 favourite, Saint Roi appeared to be going as well as anything turning into the straight, but Mark Walsh was soon struggling for racing room.
Coeur Sublime briefly threatened to break away, only to be reeled in by Jason The Militant before the Gordon Elliott-trained Abacadabras (13-8) hit the front.
Saint Roi got going after the last and was closing all the time, but as Walsh forced his way between the eventual winner and Jason The Militant, the line came too soon with Abadcadabras holding on to win the Grade 1 contest.
It was back-to-back wins on the card for the Elliott, Kennedy and Gigginstown Stud team as it followed hot on the heels of 4/11 favourite Fury Road's win in the Unibet 100th Race Celebration Hurdle.
The 6-Y-O, last seen when third in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, finished just over three lengths clear of Dewcup and Mark Walsh to take the Grade 2 honours.
Henry de Bromhead's Baptism of Fire was a further two lengths back in third place under Rachael Blackmore
Earlier on the card, Pencilfulloflead overturned the odds-on favourite Latest Exhibition in the Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
The Grade Two event has been won by some smart sorts down the years and Pencilfulloflead was providing trainer Elliott with a fourth success in the previous five seasons.
Pencilfulloflead never ran in graded company while Paul Nolan's Latest Exhibition was a Grade One winner and narrowly denied at the Cheltenham Festival, but he always looked to be travelling the better of the two.
In the heavy ground, Blackmore was keen her mount did not hit the front too soon and she was content to sit behind Brace Yourself who set the pace.
While Bryan Cooper was asking for several big leaps from the favourite on the way round, Blackmore's mount popped away like an old hand.
The two jumped the second last fence together, but Pencilfulloflead (11-2) quickened away to win by seven lengths.
Bookmakers cut the winner to around 16-1 for the three-mile novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
"It was a very good performance. He's a real stayer and he needed to be out there today," said Blackmore.
"He was a little tight to the third last, but I gave him a little squeeze after it to make sure the door didn't get shut. I had plenty of horse under me and he did it really well to the line.
"It's great for (owner) Brian Acheson as he's putting a lot into the game in the Robcour colours.
Willie Mullins' Buildmeupbuttercup defied stablemate Elimay in a photo finish in the listed Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle, benefiting from a patient ride by Paul Townend, while Chavi Artist claimed the opening Ryans Cleaning Handicap Chase for Jack Foley and Thomas Mullins.
