The two chases may have been lost owing to a waterlogged track, but the feature event alone made the journey for racegoers for this five race card, more than worthwhile.
Across-the-board opinion seemed to be that Iktitaf would out-sprint Brave Inca at the business end of the Grade 1 bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle but things didn't pan out that way.
Runner-up in the event in 2004 and winner of it last year, the Champion Hurdler, Brave Inca put in an outstanding display under his first time pilot, Ruby Walsh.
He may have had 8L to make up on Iktitaf from their clash in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month but that was Colm Murphy's stable stars' seasonal reappearance.
He has since landed the Hatton's Grace Hurdle in gritty style on what was very testing ground and many thought that such a slog would be bound to leave it's mark.
However they should have known better as the now four time course winner is extraordinarily tough.
Leading before the fourth, he was pushed along from after three out.
Ridden and strongly pressed by the cantering Iktitaf from two out, the Good Thyne gelding stayed on well under pressure from the last to beat his big rival by 1 1 /4L.
Ruby Walsh was highly impressed, saying, whatever beats him will win the Champion Hurdle, I had loads of horse the whole way and he jumped and travelled super.'
Colm Murphy meanwhile expressed relief, commenting, we were afraid of our lives that it would be a bit of a mickey mouse race and I was delighted to see Harry Rogers' horse go on.
He surprised me at how well he did it and Ruby got on very well with him.' Brave Inca's price now varies between 7/2 and 5/1 to retain his crown next March.
Son Of Oscar may have been the one punters wanted in early betting exchanges on the Bewleys Hotel Leeds Hurdle but he was put firmly in his place out on the track by Pedrobob.
Ruby Walsh, initiating a double, made all on the Pierre chestnut and he went away from the opposition to show himself to be in a different league for Barry Connell and Tony Mullins.
The trainer said afterwards, he is a very good horse when he's right but you just can't run him that often. I thought it was a brilliant run in Cheltenham last time under top-weight in his first handicap.
I thought he was an unbelievable price today so I backed him. He will come back here for the AIG meeting and will jump a fence either this season or next.'
Grangeclare Lark kept up the excellent run of Dessie Hughes and Roger Loughran by taking the Listed Mares Hurdle.
Arrive Sir Clive delivered on his undoubted potential in the maiden hurdle for Philip Fenton and Barry
Geraghty.
Ophorique looked like a horse with a big future when streaking away with the bumper for Noel Glynn and Liz Lalor.
