The 4/9 favourite jumped to the front at the final obstacle and went away to beat Central House by 13 lengths, with a further 14 lengths back to the long time leader Jim in third. "That type of race isn't good to watch but he has a bit of class and that saw him through, " Brassil said. "It's been a great season and that could be his last race unless the ground comes right for him at Punchestown."

Walsh initiated a double aboard another odds-on favourite Heavenly Blues in the opening Russell Restaurant Novice Hurdle.

Trained by the rider's father Ted, the five-year-old scored by two-and-a-half lengths in the colours of Seamus Ross and now heads to Fairyhouse where he has a choice of engagements in either a winner's race on the opening day or one of the novice hurdles.

The Easter meeting at Fairyhouse comes too soon, however, for Point Barrow according to his trainer Pat Hughes. After Point Barrow had finished third behind Kenilworth in the Bar-One Racing Handicap Hurdle, Hughes said: "He'll go straight to Aintree now for the Grand National. He was held up before and after the Bobbyjo Chase, and I was delighted with him."

Kenilworth's trainer Oliver Brady was even happier with the outcome of the race and commented, "He broke down three years ago and they told me he'd never race again, but we pinfired him and minded him and he's a really good horse when he's right."