Binocular turned in an impressive display of jumping under Tony McCoy as he powered to victory in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
Nicky Henderson's charge had clearly retained his good health in the three-week wait for the delayed Boxing Day feature as he raced prominently throughout.
Coming down to the last, it was merely a question of how far as he pulled clear of long-time leader Overturn to record an emphatic success.
Jason Maguire set out to make all on Overturn but McCoy evidently did not want to let him have too much rope as he kept Binocular on his heels throughout.
The reigning Champion Hurdle hero was very keen in the early exchanges and the pair set a decent pace in the Grade One event, with Binocular showing some neat jumping skills.
Three from home, the pace finally began to tell as Overturn just started to toil but while the well-backed Binocular (13-8 favourite) took it up at the penultimate flight, the gallant runner-up continued the chase.
However, Binocular hurdled the last in style and came home three and three-quarter lengths clear without McCoy having to ever really get serious.
Starluck struggled with the strong pace and was well held in third while a similar comment applied to Khyber Kim who never threatened to get in a serious blow.
McCoy said: "He's getting there. His hurdling was pretty accurate off a good gallop on testing ground.
"I still think it's a good bit below his Champion Hurdle performance, but it was an improvement on Newbury (third in Fighting Fifth Hurdle) which is what we wanted.
"He was fresh and buzzy the last day, and any horse that wins a two-mile championship race at Cheltenham must be a good stayer. He travels but he definitely stays, and I didn't want to be too far off Overturn in that ground."
Henderson said: "I thought this could be another day where we still might get beaten as it's a track that favours the speed horses - but to win like that, I'm very impressed.
"We're getting to where we want to be and I think we will stick to the plan and go for the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown next."
Overturn was having his first start since disappointing when last in the Ebor at York last August.
Trainer Donald McCain already has Champion Hurdle contender and Fighting Fifth winner Peddlers Cross in his yard, but he rates Overturn pretty highly too.
"We were delighted with him, he's a very tough horse," he said.
"We could take a look at the Kingwell or the race at Sandown and if I didn't have Peddlers Cross, I'd be thrilled with this lad and he will come on a touch for the run."
Starluck's owner Andrew Wates is considering a step up in trip for his horse now, although he felt the testing conditions did not play to his strengths.
He added: "He does go on this ground, but he's definitely better on good going. He's a horse with a 200-yard change of gear and we might just try him over two and a half just to see."
Champion Hurdle sponsors go 5/2 from 4/1 about Binocular, as do Sky Bet.
Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "The defending Champion Binocular jumped beutifully off a truer pace than in the Fighting Fifth and has silenced any doubters with a top class performance to re-establish his place the the head of the Champion Hurdle market."
