Irbee booked his place in Paul Nicholls's strong team for the Cheltenham Festival with an easy victory in the Emblem Chase at Kempton today.
The eight-year-old's likely target is the Grand Annual Chase following his 11-length win over Chief's Song.
"Irbee has worn blinkers for his last two or three outings and they seem to have helped him" said Nicholls.
"He tends to switch off in his races. His jumping is sharper when he is wearing them. He'll run in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham so long as the ground is not too soft".
Dontleavethenest, entered for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, was 24 lengths further back in third on his first outing in two years.
Pietro Bembo produced a determined front-running performance in the Coral Eurobet Hurdle (Showcase Handicap) to hold Golden Goal by a short head.
The strong pace set by Timmy Murphy on Pietro Bembo saw Brown Lad exit at the first flight and the 5-1 favourite House Of Dreams fall midway through the two-mile contest.
Pietro Bembo had burnt off all his remaining rivals except Golden Goal who staged a gallant bid under Richard Johnson, but could not quite get up despite being in receipt of 20lb from the winner.
Winning trainer Jon Akehurst said: "Last time out when Pietro Bembo finished fourth he just wasn't right with a lung infection.
"With the rain, we had the edge as he is a soft ground specialist."
Akehurst added that Pietro Bembo's next target would be the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown on March 11th.
Woodsfield Wanderers, syndicate owners of River Wye, have their sights on the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase at Cheltenham after the eight-year-old ran away with the Portlane Handicap Chase by 22 lengths from Big Matt.
Winning trainer George Yardley, who ensured that River Wye stayed in his yard by setting up the syndicate that bought the horse for 10,000 guineas from his previous owner, said: "He's just a brave horse.
"He jumped like a stag and needs two-and-a-half miles plus."
