Delta Work will begin to enter Cheltenham Gold Cup calculations after a blistering display in the Grade One Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.
The six-year-old returned to Ireland after finishing a good third to Topofthegame in the RSA Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, where he did not do much wrong under Davy Russell.
Sent off the well-backed 13/8 favourite, he annihilated his useful looking opposition with the likes of A Plus Tard and Getabird both in the frame, but it was he who added to his two winter Grade One victories as he sauntered clear.
The win was far easier than the twelve-length success suggested as he was eased following the final fence, completing a double for trainer Gordon Elliott.
(Credit: Racing Post) Elliott said: "He's a very, very good horse.
"We were disappointed at Cheltenham, as he never got a run through the race, but I'd say the softer ground today made the difference.
"He was in his rhythm the whole way. He's nice, one for the future," he finished.
As a result of his bloodless victory in County Kildare, most bookmakers have priced him for next season's Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup between 10/1 and 14/1, from as big as 33/1 before the flags fell.
Grand National winning rider Davy Russell was motionless throughout and barely had to move a muscle, as his mount got his deserved revenge for his unfortunate Cheltenham Festival outcome.
He said: "The more rain that fell was always going to be a big help to him.
"He fell asleep a bit on me down the back, but then a couple of good jumps got him back into it."
A Plus Tard was the disappointment back in third after his wide-margin victory in the Listed Close Brothers at Prestbury Park.
His trainer Henry de Bromhead may now consider focusing the five-year-old's career on races away from right-handed tracks such Punchestown.
He said: "He ran okay, but I think we have to start thinking about the left,-right thing.
"He does look to be a superior horse going left-handed."Left-handed or right-handed, Delta Work certainly looks like a horse worth getting excited about.
Discorama was second home in the three-mile contest having finished in the same place in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham behind Le Breuil, whilst Getabird, Chris's Dream and Winter Escape did not enjoy the wet conditions and were pulled up.