Native Upmanship and Florida Pearl slugged it out like a couple of Gold Cup heavyweights for yesterday's Durkan Chase and afterwards still stood as genuine contenders for steeplechasing's ultimate crown.
If only Punchestown had a punchier name it would have been justifiable to slap a "thrilla in Manila" type tag on to yesterday's clash. It was that good a scrap.
The younger horse just overhauled his rival in the last 50 yards of a prolonged battle from the last fence that saw those punters who backed Native Upmanship to odds-on favourite sweating heavily in the cold.
But Florida Pearl lost little in the head defeat and proved that inept seasonal debut at Down Royal was just a blip.
That seemed to be the view of the bookmakers too, with Cashmans quoting Florida Pearl as low as 6 to 1 second favourite for the Gold Cup behind See More Business.
Native Upmanship, racing in the same colours as the returning hero Nick Dundee, was cut to 10 to 1 for the Gold Cup, and a clash between the two Magnier-owned horses now looks likely in the Ericsson Chase.
"I'd like to go to Leopardstown and then we'll aim at the Gold Cup," said Arthur Moore, who added: "It's been a while since I've seen a race as good as that. I'm thrilled. He'll jump better when the pace is faster, and as his dam is a half-sister to Time For A Run, he will hopefully stay all right."
Willie Mullins didn't look noticeably disappointed in the runner-up spot and confirmed the King George as Florida Pearl's next start.
"I thought we'd won in lots of places during the race - except on the line!" he quipped, before adding: "I'm happy with him, disappointed to have lost, but mainly happy. The Ericsson has been unlucky for us and I see no reason to change the King George plan. There should be improvement throughout the year with him."
It would be hard to improve on yesterday's clash, however. Florida Pearl kicked on for Ruby Walsh when Micko's Dream made a mistake at the second last, and looked to be holding Native Upmanship for much of the straight. But the younger horse eventually won out.
Conor O'Dwyer reported: "Native Upmanship probably needs to improve, but he is going the right way about doing that and he was tough out there today when he had to be."
Micko's Dream faded to third but could renew hostilities in the Ericsson which is building up into some contest, with the Mullins-trained Alexander Banquet also confirmed for the Leopardstown Christmas race.
There were no such dramatics in the other four-runner race, the Hilly Way Chase, but the odds-on To Your Honour left things open right up to the run-in, when he eventually went clear of Space Trucker.
To Your Honour jumped very slowly over the first four fences and doesn't seem ideally suited racing right-handed. Trainer Francis Flood said: "He needed a bit of company to warm up and would be more at home over three miles and on a different track."
Section Seven ran out an impressive Conyngham Cup winner; and the Moore O'Dwyer team added to their big-race success with Ellenjay in the handicap hurdle. However, they had reverse with the warm favourite, Royal Plaisir, who was beaten by French Style in the novice hurdle.
