Rhinestone Cowboy got back on track for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle following a disappointing run at Leopardstown with an effortless win in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown today.
The 2-5 favourite was always going well for his amateur rider JP Magnier, whose parents John and Sue own the Jonjo O'Neill-trained eight-year-old, and scored by two lengths from Garde Champetre.
Fears of protests by Manchester United fans against Magnier and his business partner JP McManus proved unfounded. Racing at Hereford on Friday was disrupted by a demonstration against the involvement of the Irish duo in the Old Trafford club.
Fifth Generation, the 300-1 outsider in the five-strong field, cut out the early running but he was headed after the fourth-last by Teaatral and Garde Champetre.
The latter went on shortly afterwards but was immediately joined by Rhinestone Cowboy, who touched down with a narrow lead after the final flight and did not have to be hard-ridden to hold the runner-up.
Teaatral was 15 lengths back in third. Rhinestone Cowboy was cut to 5-1 from 7-1 with Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle, in which he finished third as a novice last season.
O'Neill said: "He will also be entered in the Coral Cup, where JP would be able to claim his 7lb, but I would think the Champion Hurdle is the most likely route. He seemed in good form before Leopardstown but he just ran no race. I still don't know why, but I was hopeful I had got him back right today, and he did everything right. It's a big relief."