Galopin Des Champs came through his pre-Christmas assignment in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown with flying colours.
Last seen winning at Fairyhouse in April having fallen at the final fence at the Cheltenham Festival with the Turners Novices' Chase at his mercy, his reappearance had been eagerly anticipated.
Willie Mullins breathed a huge sigh of relief when the meeting was rescheduled after originally being lost to the weather, and in truth there was very little alarm for the 2-9 market leader once the race had started.
The Gold Cup favourite was settled in mid-division by Paul Townend as Lifetime Ambition led the field along, before he breezed to the head of affairs over two furlongs out.
Without being asked a serious question the six-year-old careered away to win by 13 lengths from Fakir D'oudairies, who is himself a Grade One winner.
Appreciate It also made a winning debut over fences for the Mullins and Townend combination.
As he often does, Townend kept things simple by bouncing into an early lead on the 2021 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner.
A problem last season meant he was only seen once, in the Champion Hurdle when he finished seventh behind Honeysuckle.
Sent chasing late in life as he will turn nine in a few weeks, he nevertheless still possesses a huge engine.
He briefly looked like having a fight on his hands as Top Bandit joined him early in the straight, but when asked to stretch Appreciate It, the 1-5 favourite, pulled seven lengths clear.
Mullins said: "He went out and did his own work in front. He was very idle in front and Jack Kennedy kept him honest over the last couple.
"I couldn't ask for any better. It was only two miles and we'll see how he comes out of it. We'll see if there is something between now and the Dublin Racing Festival.
"He's an Arkle type and we have others to come out over the next few days. I don't know if they are as good as him, but we'll give them the opportunity."
