"He jumps so well, and hopefully there's a nice handicap chase left in him for Punchestown, " said Nolan. "He'll probably run on the flat, as well."

The Charlie Swan-trained Far More Serious sprang a 10-1 surprise under Denis O'Regan in the opening Cheltenham Hangover Maiden Hurdle, scoring by four and a half lengths from Baker's Bridge.

Far More Serious is closely related to This Is Serious, and Swan remarked: "He just likes the ground a bit nicer than he's been running on, and I'll give him one more run in a winners race, and then let him off.

"He'll go chasing next season."

It was a similar story with Garryrichard Stud Handicap Hurdle winner Walkin Aisy, who was left clear to collect by 11 lengths when the favourite Premier Rouge fell at the final flight.

Trainer Dessie Hughes said of Nikki O'Shea's mount:

"He likes the better ground, and he'll go for another handicap. He'll go chasing next season."

Trainer and jockey enjoyed a quick follow-up, courtesy of Ballyfinney in the Gowran Farmers Market Maiden Hurdle. The 100-30 chance outpointed the 3-1 favourite Offshore Account by 11 lengths.