Alexander Banquet bounced back to form with an impressive success at Naas on Saturday but although the former Cheltenham Festival winner is now as low as 11 to 1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, the novice championship looks to be in the hands of Martin Pipe.
Ten minutes after Alexander Banquet had passed the post 15 lengths clear of Go Roger Go in the Nas Na Riogh Chase, Pipe's Gloria Victis destroyed a field of top handicappers in the Racing Post Trophy at Kempton and was immediately made 6 to 1 second favourite for the Gold Cup.
Pipe is keeping his cards close to his chest about whether Gloria Victis will go for the Cup or the SunAlliance but Cashmans summed up the general view that the novice race appears to be his to pick up and make Gloria Victis 7 to 4 "with a run".
Willie Mullins was just delighted his former Festival bumper winner was back in winning form under new rider Jason Titley and said: "I wanted something different done with him so we changed the tactics very slightly. I was delighted with his jumping."
Noel Meade was less happy with the jumping of his SunAlliance Hurdle prospect Oa Baldixe who went down by half a length to No Discount in the Johnstown Hurdle but Cheltenham still remains his target.
"I'm actually happy enough with him. He was a bit short for this so he will come on and he'll be better on better ground," Meade said after the stewards allowed No Discount keep the race despite Fran Berry having to dramatically switch the favourite off the rail in the last 50 yards.
Like Oa Baldixe, No Discount got a 16 to 1 quote for the SunAlliance from Paddy Power but Charlie Swan has not committed his runner to Cheltenham while Sackville, eight lengths back in third, did nothing to advertise the claims of the top Irish novice Youlneverwalkalone.
The Cathcart remains an option for His Song who gave weight and a beating to Danoli in the Newlands Chase but most attention centred on the runner-up who will now be trained with Punchestown in mind.
Minella Hotel crucified his opposition to justify favouritism in the Supporters Handicap Hurdle but favourite backers were badly stung in the opener where the favourite Creux Noir was short-headed by Gerard Keane's 500 Guineas purchase Trimilki who won his first race at 50 to 1.
