Monsignor lived up to his tall reputation and more as he destroyed the leading staying novices in today's Sun Alliance Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Mark Pitman's giant gelding received a mighty cheer as he took the lead jumping the third last and despite fluffing the second last Norman Williamson's mount powered clear turning for home for a highly impressive eight length victory over Irish challenger No Discount.
The winner travelled sweetly throughout the race as Man On The Hill cut out the running. Martin Pipe's gelding started to weaken at half-way and Gentle Rivage was left to do the donkey work.
But it only looked a matter of when for Williamson as he tracked the leaders and a stunning leap three out propelled him into the lead.
He soon had the measure of Gentle Rivage and the ridden Far Cry and it was left to Charlie Swan's No Discount to lay down a challenge.
But although he stayed on well from the back he had no answer to Monsignor's turn of foot in the straight and was always finishing a highly commendable second.
Monsignor's trainer, Mark Pitman said, 'Before the race Norman said that he might not handle the ground which surprised me as I thought he would and thankfully he did. He's got a serious engine.
'I rode the horse on Sunday instead of my assistant Paul Price and the horse just didn't know what to do with me but I was very pleased with him and his preparation has gone perfectly.'
Owner Malcolm Denmark said: 'It's more than 50-50 that we'll put the horse away for the season. But there is a hurdle race for him at Aintree and Punchestown.
'Whatever happens next year he will go chasing.'
Noel Meade may have ended his Cheltenham hoodoo yesterday with the victory of Sausalito Bay but was left cursing his luck after the defeat of Native Dara in the Coral Cup Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty's mount powered into the lead turning for home and soon opened up five-length gap.
The race looked in safe keeping as they jumped the last but What's Up Boys, who was fully 20 lengths behind at that stage, found wings on the run in to grab the pair close home for an amazing victory.
Willie Mullins continued his remarkable domination of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, saddling the winner Joe Cullen as well as third Be My Royal and fourth Tuesday.
The Carlow trainer has an amazing record in the Flat contest, having saddled three previous winners in Wither Or Which, Florida Pearl and Alexander Banquet.
It was Ballyamber, another Mullins horse, who lead coming to the top of the hill but as he weakened Tuesday and Inca moved through to take it up.
Turning for home Inca had asserted as Be My Royal also threw down a challenge but it was the held-up Joe Cullen who finished best of all when produced on the outside by Charlie Swan - scoring by two-and-a-half-lengths from Inca with two lengths back to Be My Royal.
Relaxation had his rivals struggling from a long way out in the National Hunt Chase.
Mark Bradburne sent his mount on round the back straight and nothing was able to get a blow in as he galloped all the way to the line for a six length success over Inch Rose.
Mister One finished third with the rest of the finishers well strung out behind.
