War Of Attrition proved a major disappointment in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase as Hi Cloy flew home to land the Grade 1 contest in the shadow of the post.
Mouse Morris' Gold Cup hope was sent off the 4/5f but the distress signals went up four out, as Conor O'Dwyer got to work, and he was a spent force after the next - finishing a well-beaten fifth.
The 2m4f contest did produce a terrific finish, however, with the Michael Hourigan-trained Hi Cloy getting up close home to just deny game front-runner Jim.
Forget The Past took over at the head of affairs turning for home but couldn't shake off Jim. The long-time leader regained the advantage at the last but was mugged in the dying strides by Hi Cloy and Andrew McNamara.
'I thought he would win today - I was pretty confident,' revealed Hourigan afterwards. 'He hasn't always been an easy horse to train but he certainly repaid us with this victory.'
Next stop for the winner is the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Mouse Morris was concerned about the form of his yard following War Of Attrition's performance.
'Conor said he just ran flat all the way. Coming here today I didn't think we had a problem, but the way the horses ran in the earlier races too, we must have now.'
Andrew McNamara recorded a double on the day but got the verdict aboard Mounthenry in the stewards room following the opening INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle.
The front-running Blueberry Boy edged across Mounthenry before the final flight in the Listed event and went on to hold his rival by a neck in a stirring finish, despite drifting left close home.
The stewards decided that the incident at the last had been enough to change the outcome, however, and controversially handed the race to Charles Byrnes' gelding.
There was also a double on the card for Barry Geraghty, courtesy of Charlies First and Colonel Munroe.
Charlies First stayed on gamely to repel the late challenge of Fox Point by a neck in the Schweppes Handicap Hurdle while Colonel Munroe had to survive a stewards enquiry when drifting right after the last in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Handicap Chase.
Noel Meade and Paul Carberry, fresh from a memorable day at Cheltenham, got into the winners enclosure when Toofarback stayed on well to claim the Benson Burger Express Maiden Hurdle.
Doctor Linton was produced with a well-timed run to wear down Kahuna after the last in the Ryan's Event Cleaner's Novice Chase while English raider Knockara Luck ran out a comfortable winner of the bumper for trainer Nicky Richards.
