Knight Legend turned the Star 'Best For Racing' Chase into a procession at Punchestown on Wednesday with a commanding front-running performance.
The Grade 3 contest was robbed off much of its lustre, however, by the absence of Forget The Past, due to the good ground.
Central House pursued 1/1f Knight Legend throughout, over the 2m6f trip, but came under pressure three out and Jessica Harrington's charge soon asserted.
He got a bit low at the last but it was only a minor blip as he came home an effortless 11-length victor under Barry Geraghty.
'That was straight forward. He stayed well and jumped well and Barry said he was lovely and relaxed. It was a nice race to pick up,' said Harrington.
'I'm not sure where we'll go now. Both owners live in England so it's possible he could go across the water. There is a second season novice chase at Ascot which is a possible.'
Noel Meade was quick off the mark with a double in the first two contests and completed a fine day when making it three in the concluding bumper.
Aitmatov had his task significantly reduced when well-supported favourite Sizing Europe (5/2 to 9/4) fell two out in the Listed Ryan's Cleaning Services Hurdle.
Paul Carberry's mount had just moved up to challenge the leader when he crashed out, leaving him to come home an effortless four-and-a-half length winner over Hide The Evidence.
'He's a lovely horse. We schooled him over fences but he didn't like it so we'll stay over hurdles with him,' said Meade.
'He's a horse that could go to England for some of the two-and-a-half mile races. I thought he might need it today although I think he was going to win anyway (when Sizing Europe fell).
The opening juvenile hurdle was packed full of incident and 25/1 shot Silverhand survived a scare at the last to run out a cosy winner.
'Slippers' Madden could only watch as he was badly hampered by a loose horse but his mount had enough in reserve to quicken on the run-in and get up for a length victory over Eritrea.
'We knew he was quite good but thought he might be a bit green - he's a bit of a machine!' said Meade.
'I'd say he is fairly useful, he had loads of toe. He's entered at the Curragh on Saturday but whether we go that soon with him I don't know. He will have a run on the Flat though.'
Meade's haul was completed when Chateau D'eau made a winning debut in the bumper. Nina Carberry hit the lead early in the straight on the French-bred and he stayed on strongly for a three-length success.
'It's been a good day,' said Meade. 'He's a nice horse. He might run in another bumper but he won't be kept for bumpers and will go jumping.'
The new partnership of Tom Taaffe and Tom Ryan continues to blossom and the pair teamed up for a double with Breaking Silence and Window Of Hope.
JP McManus' Breaking Silence made a winning start to handicap chasing when forging on three out for a length-and-a-half victory over A Good Excuse.
The brace was completed when Window Of Hope emerged narrowly on top after a great finish to the Gain Handicap Hurdle.
McManus also witnessed his colours carried to a double as Dancing Tornado gave Michael Hourigan his first winner for the leading owner in the maiden hurdle.
David Casey produced the gelding with a strong run before the last and he stayed on strongly to post a two-length win over Noble Crusader.
'It's nice to get that out of the way. He's a nice horse who won two bumpers and he couldn't have done anymore than he did there. He rolled about a bit running to the last and will improved a good bit,' said Hourigan.
