Barton erased any worries that injury might have dulled his talent with a sparkling comeback in the Pertemps `Fighting Fifth` Hurdle at Newcastle today.
He stretched his unbeaten record to eight over timber with a comfortable dismissal of five rivals in the #37,000 contest.
William Hill make him a 12-1 chance for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle after his seven-length defeat of The French Furze.
Trainer Tim Easterby was relieved that Barton, the winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle in 1999, appeared to be as good as ever.
'I`m not thinking about any other races yet, I just wanted to get this one out of the way,' he said.
Barton was carrying the green, black and white colours of Newcastle racecourse chairman Stan Clarke.
Unfortunately his owner missed the victory as he is at home recovering from a back operation.
Barton, backed into 8-13, was in front with three to travel and soon pulled into a clear lead.
The French Furze threatened briefly from two out but Barton stretched away again to win comfortably.
Tony Dobbin, reunited with the horse after the retirement of Lorcan Wyer, said: 'I was most impressed. His jumping was awesome and he gave me a good feel all the way round.'
Easterby was following in the footsteps of his father Peter who won this race with Night Nurse in 1975 and Sea Pigeon in 1978 and 1980.
'I wasn`t worried about the distance of the race but I thought he might just need the run,' said Easterby jnr.
'He`s just different class to my other horses and kills them at home so you have to work him alone.
'I was worried about the tendon injury and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that he`s all right in the morning.'
There was some talk that Barton might be switched to chasing later in the campaign but Easterby said: 'I`m sure he`ll be staying over hurdles now for the season.'
Whether Barton takes on Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle or goes for the Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle is still uncertain. 'I`ll need to speak to Mr Clarke before we decide which way to go,' said Easterby.
'But Barton is certainly the best I`ve had and we`ve got plenty to look forward to now.'
Even Barton`s next race is undecided at present. 'I`m just not thinking too far ahead at the moment - I didn`t even write in this race for him until the other day,' said Easterby.
Dobbin was putting the seal on a marvellous day, having notched earlier wins on Venture To Fly and Ballystone.
Nicky Richards was lifted when Venture To Fly, one of the last horses bought by the trainer`s late father Gordon, came good in the Federation Brewery Novices` Hurdle.
Richards, registering his first win for 74 days, said: 'I would have wanted to jump off the top of the stand if this one hadn`t won.
'There`s not been anything wrong with the horses, they`ve just been slow to come to hand.
'This horse was in the last batch of horses that Dad bought and I hope he will do well.
'He will have one more run over hurdles and then will go chasing. His future is in long-distance chases.'
Dobbin teed up his treble when Ballystone beat the only other finisher Roman Outlaw by 22 lengths in the Gosforth Decorating & Building Services Novices` Handicap Chase.
'He is slow as a duck but Tony Dobbin has got him jumping well,' said trainer Lenny Lungo. 'This wasn`t a great race and we`ll be keeping him low key.'
Smudger Smith made all in the Freeclaim IDC Juvenile Novices` Hurdle coming home nine lengths clear of Furness.
'He`s progressing well and might well go for something better now,' said trainer Brian Rothwell who has just six horses over jumps.
A possible target is the Summit Junior Hurdle at Lingfield in a fortnight.
Mary Reveley kept up her winning form as Konker justified odds of 4-6 in the Woodpecker Cider Amateur Riders` Handicap Hurdle.
Brian Murphy hardly needed to move a muscle as Konker pulled smoothly clear of Gospel Song on the run-in.
Konker may be back in action at Hexham on Wednesday week in a qualifier for the Top of the North Series.
