Classic Getaway showed signs that he could repay his record-equalling price tag when running out an impressive winner of a beginners chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.
The gelding cost £570,000 at the 2020 Goffs UK December Sale after a decisive victory in a point-to-point.
His sales price matched the sum that JP McManus paid for Jonbon, the full-brother to the mercurially talented Douvan.
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Classic Getaway was bought by Cheveley Park Stud and originally went to Gordon Elliott's Cullentra yard.
But he was one of the Cheveley Park horses, that included Envoi Allen, to leave Elliott's yard following the emergence of the photo of the Meath handler sitting on a dead horse.
Instead Classic Getaway went to Willie Mullins' yard, and, despite easily winning a bumper, he was largely disappointing over hurdles.
After being pulled up in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, his last run over hurdles came when finishing third in a conditions race at the Punchestown Hurdle.
However, on Saturday's evidence, Classic Getaway could end up paying his way over fences.
In a hot beginners chase, which included stablemate Minella Cocooner, who Paul Townend favoured, Classic Getaway jumped with aplomb in the hands of Danny Mullins and went past Minella Cocooner over the final fence for a comfortable success.
The pair were 27 lengths clear of the third-placed stablemate Whatdeawant.
Betfair cut Classic Getaway to 12-1 from 50s for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while making him a 10-1 shot for the National Hunt Chase.
Mullins said: “The ground is perfect for us so I wanted to get the three of them out. It’s not ideal but we let them take each other on and have them ready for Christmas so we know where we are going now.
“Paul was a shade unlucky having to make all the running and the horse was a little green in front which cost him as well as the mistake at the last.
“Take nothing from the winner. He travelled the whole way and jumped well. He had the benefit of getting a lead but did come through and jumped well. He did everything right.
“Whatdeawant might need a longer trip but he was a little more novicey than the other two. They are three nice novices to go to war with at Christmas.”
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