Psycho got off the mark over fences in fine style to give Ruby Walsh and Tony Martin a double at Clonmel.
The 10/11 favourite was in front from halfway and didn't have to work too hard to record a cosy 11-length victory.
Walsh asked his mount to quicken at the back of the last and he soon put the contest beyond doubt.
He was completing a brace for the pair after the opening race victory of Tijuana Dancer
"He's a pure natural. He ran in a point-to-point as a young horse and we should have went chasing last year with him," said Martin.
"That's great but he'd want to do that as he's rated 135 over hurdles. It was very good.
"There was no point dropping him in there, as he can be a bit keen, especially over two-and-a-half miles. They went some gallop.
"It's a pity we didn't get going that bit earlier with him over fences.
"When he was second at Cheltenham (County Hurdle 2008) we thought he had a good handicap in him so we trained him for the Pierse and he got chinned on the day.
"We'll have a look at the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. Hopefully a lot of the better novices will go to Cheltenham."
