Cue Card and Paddy Brennan were impressive winners at Aintree© Photo Healy Racing
Cue Card gained a measure of compensation for his Cheltenham fall with victory in the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree.
It will remain a matter of conjecture as to what would have happened in the Cheltenham Gold Cup had Colin Tizzard's star stayed on his feet but there was no doubting the quality of his performance in the feature on Grand Opening Day in Liverpool.
Paddy Brennan was prepared to track the early pace set by Gold Cup second Djakadam who soon had Don Poli ridden more prominently than last month, for company.
The big three pulled clear of the prominent racing Dynaste and the rest of the pack on the final circuit and it wasn't until three from home that Brennan pulled the 10-year-old out and asked a question of his rivals.
Djakadam was the first to weaken and it quickly became evident that Don Poli was also struggling as Bryan Cooper became more urgent in the saddle while Brennan was motionless.
Cue Card was clear approaching the final obstacle and safely negotiated that to run out a nine length winner, returning the 6/5 favourite.
Don Poli was second, eight lengths ahead of Djakadam who survived a mistake at the last which saw Walsh pitched up the grey's neck.
Dynaste rallied for a respectable fourth.
Brennan, who had been left heartbroken at Cheltenham, said: "Just relief. We changed the bit on him today and it helped. He is a horse of a lifetime and is unbelievable. He was not at his best today and he still did that.
"He was just lacklustre at times, if asked for a long one he was not giving me that same exuberance. It's probably me just asking too much of him.
"I'd just like to thank everyone for their support as there are a lot of worse things that can happen in life.
"I'm just very grateful to still be on the horse."
Tizzard, has other targets in mind before next season with Cue Card set to appear at the Punchestown Festival.
"He was awesome, like he has been all season," the winning trainer said. "The real big one escaped us this year, but that just shows what a horse he is at the moment.
"We changed the bits today. He is a completely different horse and he will stay all day. I get nervous with this horse from day one.
"You have got to jump the jumps and thank god he got up (from the fall at Cheltenham). He trotted up the next morning as sound as a pound, as if he didn't have a race.
"He is 10 now and is better than he has ever been. He was brilliant today. He runs with his head a little bit high, not like a typical chaser."
He added: "He completely missed it at Cheltenham and I never thought he would fall.
"He will go to Punchestown. I entered him yesterday, it was always going to be on the cards. He hasn't had a hard race, he is 10 so there is no reason not to go there.
"Paddy wears his heart on his sleeve. He was sensible, he wasn't as nervous - there was a lot of hype going into Cheltenham and that was a thorough test, this was a bit more relaxed."
Mullins said: "We have no excuses. Our two did the donkey work out in front but we were beaten by a better horse on the day."
