Nine times victorious at the top level over the smaller obstacles, the 2015 Champion Hurdle hero showed he was still a formidable force – just days short of turning 12 years old – to lower the colours of another star name in Samcro.

Low Sun sprang a major surprise in the €100,000 RYBO Handicap Hurdle in Fairyhouse yesterday, giving 7lbs claimer Katie O’Farrell the biggest win of her career and the first leg of a magnificent double.