Killultagh Vic scores under Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
The market suggested it could happen and Killultagh Vic didn't disappoint in the Free Festival Upgrade Ticket Offer Hurdle at Punchestown.
Not seen since his heroics at Leopardstown in January 2016, Willie Mullins' charge went off an odds-on chance for this two and a half mile assignment.
The 9/10 chance's hurdling certainly wasn't without flaw, but all his old spark was there when Paul Townend asked for more up the straight.
A point-to-point outing with Colin McBratney had been mooted as a 'start-back' for Killultagh Vic, but as he showed here he's too good for that.
He found another gear on the run-in to score by two and three parts of a length and a head from Ex Patriot and Diamond King
"His engine is in tact alright but his hurdle jumping brain hasn't changed much!" said Mullins.
"Hopefully everything will be alright over the next week and we'll probably look for something over fences for him the next time. He's not a natural hurdler.
"The main thing is just to recover from this race and look for a target after that.
"I sort of wondered whether I'd stay hurdling with him this season but the way he jumped there he's not going to step up in class much more.
"We schooled him over fences the other day, before Leopardstown, and maybe that's what was in his head but he hasn't the best reputation as a hurdler. We'll probably look for a chase.
"The Kinloch Brae in Thurles might come too soon. Maybe the Red Mills Chase might suit better.
"Today's job is done and the next job is to see how he comes out of the race, then we'll look at something after that.
"The conditions of this race suited. We entered him in other races over Christmas but these conditions suited and he needed all those weight advantages to win."
(GC & EM)
