Racing:Neptune Collonges and Tony McCoy made all to win the Argento Chase ahead of Tidal Bay at Cheltenham.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the winner was backed into 11-2 before the off and was excellent at all of the fences except at the top of the hill.
"He didn't run as badly as the form suggested last time and Paul just told me to go a nice gallop on him as we know he stays well," McCoy said afterwards. "We thought there were a few doubts about Punchestowns and Tidal Bay so the plan was to get them at it.
"He's an older horse who knows his way around and he's just a pleasure to ride."
Nicholls added: "I'm thrilled for the horse. It's been a long road back but he was unlucky in the Hennessy Gold Cup when we thought he would run well and he missed the break last time, but it didn't do him any harm and he had a good run round.
"It's good to see him come back and win a nice race. I told AP to make every post a winning one. He's got an entry for the National and an entry for a Gold Cup, but we'll see how he is and have a chat about the future."
Tidal Bay (5-2) was held up with Madison Du Berlais for most of the race. He made some ground running down the hill but the race was all but over by the time he consented to run on.
Tidal Bay's trainer Howard Johnson said: "They didn't go fast enough for him and we might as well go for the Gold Cup, as where else do you go?"
Nicky Henderson, trainer of the well-beaten favourite Punchestowns, added: "Barry (Geraghty) was very pleased with his jumping. He's taken a blow and he does take a massive amount of work to get ready. We wanted to come here to get a run into him and we'll press on. I'd love to get another run into him, but where do you go? I'm not sure you'd want to go for the AON Chase at Newbury in a fortnight."
Favourite Punchestowns, sent off at 11-10, was in second for the first half of the race but whilst the winner jumped well, he was sketchy at several of his obstacles. He pecked at the third last which knocked the wind out of his sails and was looked after by jockey Barry Geraghty up the run-in.
Grands Crussmashed his rivals to stake a serious Ladbrokes World Hurdle claim in the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2).
Despite being a little keen on the first circuit the improving grey travelled with ease throughout and demolished the rest of the field when sent on up the hill by Tom Scudamore.
Knockara Beau (33-1) got nearest to the 2-1 favourite but was 10 lengths back in second with Restless Harry (7-1) a head further back in third.
A delighted Scudamore said: "He's quite good isn't he? You'd have to say he's bang there. Big Buck's is the one to beat (in the World Hurdle) but if anything is going to beat him, it's going to be us.
"He switched off lovely early but then got a bit keen halfway through the race. Every time we step him up in his work he does everything so easily."