Irving made handsome amends for his last-flight fall in the race last year when storming home for Paul Nicholls and Nick Scholfield in the StanJames.com Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Showing the benefits of corrective survey on a wind problem, the seven-year-old got the better of old rival Melodic Rendezvous by seven lengths, with favourite Zarib a head away in third.

Melodic Rendezvous held the advantage at the second-last obstacle but once Scholfield gave the 9-2 shot Irving the signal, he shot clear in fine style.

Nicholls is keep to point his winner at the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle - a race he won last year - but does not see the Champion Hurdle as part of the plan.

The Ditcheat trainer explained: "We sorted his breathing out in the summer and it's amazing how it holds them back when they can't breath.

"Nick has been very sweet on him in the approach to today and said he just changed gear. We've done different things with him and the obvious route now is to go for the Fighting Fifth.

"The only way he would not go there is if Newcastle couldn't stage the race, in which case there's a nice contest at Haydock for him.

"It never happened for him last year and, to be honest, we thought he'd need it today.

"Nick says Cheltenham doesn't really suit him as it takes him time to warm up, so at this stage the Champion Hurdle isn't on his agenda."