Yorkhill and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Yorkhill refused to settle for Paul Townend in the Grade One EZ Trader Mersey Novices' Hurdle but he still ran out a ready winner at Aintree.
Townend took over in the saddle from the injured Ruby Walsh and he had a really hard time settling the 3/10 favourite, who pulled his way to the front at around half way.
When Le Prezien laid down his challenge it looked as though Yorkhill's antics might've come back to haunt him, but to his great credit he pulled out more when asked by Townend to run out a two-and-a-quarter length winner.
Having posted one of the standout performances at last month's Cheltenham Festival when winning the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, the six-year-old produced a display of completely different contrast before mastering his rivals in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.
After failing to settle early on Torkhill pulled his way to the front down the far side into a lead he was to hold on for the rest of the race.
Although meeting the second-last wrong the Willie Mullins-trained gelding still held the initiative out in front with his closest challengers Bello Conti Le Prezien and Flying Angel all under pressure to close the gap.
The race looked in safe-keeping after he put in a bold jump at the last, but after idling up the run-in Le Prezien got another chance to close.
Showing his class, though, Yorkhill pulled out more when it mattered to cross the line two and a quarter lengths clear of Paul Nicholls' runner.
Paddy Power left the winner unchanged at 7-2 for next year's Arkle.
Winning rider Paul Townend said: "I can't say everything went to plan - nothing probably went to plan.
"He went to the start and he was on fire. I tried to drop him out to get him to settle and I couldn't get him to drop the bridle.
"He had a bit more of a look in front, but he's some horse to win after doing that.
"I didn't think there was a whole lot I was able to do. It just shows the engine that's there.
"When he felt them coming at him on the run-in he pulled out plenty again.
"He's a fair horse."
Mullins said: "It was very hard to watch, but it must have been harder for Paul on board. Not a lot went right for him today.
"The horse gave him an awful ride, but he pulled it out when he wanted. I thought he was beaten at the last - he went all over the place after landing - but he must be an iron horse.
"When I saw him in the parade ring and I was putting the saddle on him, I just thought Cheltenham was taking its toll. To put in a performance like that was very good.
"We'll look at Punchestown, but I'd say we might put him away."
Ireland's champion trainer remains undecided as to what route Yorkhill will pursue next season.
"His pedigree suggests we should be going chasing, but he looks Champion Hurdle material to me," he added.
"He won't be going down the World Hurdle route. It will either be the Champion Hurdle or the Arkle.
"Ruby (Walsh) said when he jumped off at Cheltenham that he'd win the Arkle with his mouth open, but I'm thinking he'd suit the Champion Hurdle."
It was a major victory for Townend, who so often has to play second fiddle to Ruby Walsh, who suffered a fractured wrist in a fall on Friday.
Mullins said: "Paul didn't get much of a run this year, so now it's his turn.
"Hopefully he'll make hay while Ruby is out."
Nicholls said of the runner-up: "I thought that was a very good effort to make a race of it with the favourite, he'll go straight to the sales now and will make a smashing chaser next year."
Flying Angel was third for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who said: "It was a very good run, back in novice company at the top level. That will do for now, and he will go novice chasing next season."
