Salvator Mundi made odds-on backers sweat before eventually coming good in the Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Runner-up to the top-class Sir Gino on his only start in France, the five-year-old finished sixth in the Triumph Hurdle on his first run for Willie Mullins before making the most of having his sights lowered at Tipperary in the spring.
He was an 8-15 favourite to make a successful return in a Grade Two contest the champion trainer has farmed in recent years, with Mikael D’Haguenet (2009), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Min (2016) among his 10 previous winners.
Salvator Mundi was keen from the off in the hands of Paul Townend and a mistake at the final flight before straightening up for home put him on the back foot.
The son of No Risk At All had to be ridden along to reel in those in front of him in the straight, but quickened up smartly to grab the lead between the final two flights and passed the post with three lengths in hand over stablemate Kel Histoire, who narrowly beat Relieved Of Duties to second.
Paddy Power make Salvator Mundi their 4-1 favourite from 5-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Coral trimmed his odds to 3-1 from 6-1.
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