< War Of Attrition could well be heading back to the scene of his finest triumph after securing his second successive victory at Navan.
The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero had rolled back the years to win last month's Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran and was sent off at 7-1 for the Ladbrokes.com Boyne Hurdle.
Ridden prominently by Davy Russell, the 11-year-old jumped with panache throughout and only Mourad could go with Mouse Morris' veteran turning for home.
The latter looked the likely winner when cruising up in the straight but his jumping was not as fluent as the winner, who responded to his rider's every call after the final flight to score by a head.
Injury problems have meant War Of Attrition has not visited Cheltenham since his Gold Cup success but that could change next month with the World Hurdle now on his radar, along with a potential Aintree Grand National tilt.
"It's his last season and I wouldn't have thought that win will affect his National weight," said Morris.
"The World Hurdle looks a bit of a one-horse race and the favourite (Big Buck's) is a bit like us in the way that he lost his way over fences.
"He might even run in both, why not?"
Willie Mullins appears to be hitting form at the right time as he and jockey Ruby Walsh enjoyed a treble.
The fearsome duo first struck with Kerb Appeal in the opening maiden hurdle, before Uimhiraceathair and Shakervilz were victorious in the two novice chases.
Uimhiraceathair dead-heated with Telenor in the Grade Two Ten Up Novice Chase, while Shakervilz proved too strong in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
Mullins said: "Uimhiraceathair will have learned a lot.
"It was a great experience for him and he'll probably go straight to the RSA Chase now.
"Shakervilz is doing everything right over fences. The owner isn't here but I'd imagine he would want to go to Cheltenham.
"We will be looking at the Arkle but he is still in the RSA. However, his jumping his electric."
