Mystical Power reversed form with old rival Slade Steel to claim the Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle on day one of the Punchestown Festival.
Willie Mullins' regally-bred son of Annie Power was sent off the 2/1 market leader to gain revenge on Slade Steel and although Henry De Bromhead's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner looked to be travelling best turning for home, he failed to match the power-packed finish on display by Mystical Power, who quickened up smartly under a confident Mark Walsh ride to confirm Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle placings with Gordon Elliott's Firefox.
The winning margin was a length and three quarters, with a further four and a quarter lengths back to the third-placed horse Slade Steel.
"He showed resilience and toughness today, he's been improving all season," said the recently crowned British champion trainer.
"I didn't think we had much chance at the second-last and Mark said he was going as fast as he could coming around the last bend.
"The race turned into a staying race, with the other two protagonists playing their cards going to the last, they were flat out and he just outstayed them with a good jump at the last.
"It's fantastic that he's progressed as the season has gone on and I think Annie Power is coming out in him."
Paddy Power cut the winner to 12/1 (from 16/1) for next year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, a contest Mullins appeared to be leaning towards with a novice chase campaign unlikely. "There is a lot of thinking to do between now and then, but you'd certainly have to look at that. I don't think he'll go novice chasing, as he looks more of a hurdler than a chaser," explained Mullins.
"He could easily step up in trip watching that performance today. Mark said he found it tough with the amount of speed that was in the early part of the race.
"It looked a real staying race there today, which would mean that he's a two-and-a-half-mile hurdler and they are the sort of horses you probably need to win a Champion Hurdle, so maybe it's all pointing in that direction."
