The nine-year-old, trained by Howard Johnson and owned by Graham Wylie, was retaining his stayers’ crown in typically stout fashion, much to the delight of the packed grandstands.

As expected Lough Derg made the running with Hardy Eustace just behind and it was the latter, a dual Champion Hurdle hero, who went on at the fourth-last.

However, there was going to be no fairytale final Festival triumph for jockey Conor O’Dwyer as Hardy Eustace seemingly failed to stay the three miles.

Kazal made his bid for glory after the third-last but he was pursued by Kasbah Bliss, Inglis Drever and My Way De Solzen.

But there was no denying Inglis Drever, who jumped into the lead at the final flight.

He had to work though to hold French raider Kasbah Bliss (9-1) by a length, with the first two pulling seven lengths clear of Kazal (12-1).

Johnson enthused: “It feels great, he missed a year and he’s come good again.

“All credit to the horse firstly. Andrea and Graham (Wylie) have been very good supporters for the yard and I’m pleased for them.

“It’s just unbelievable.”

The County Durham handler had mentioned the possibility of retiring Inglis Drever if he won a third World Hurdle but has yet to reach a decision.

Johnson added: “I’ll have a word with Graham at the end of the season and if he’s a chance of winning the Order of Merit I might think about going to Aintree, my lucky course.

“We might come back for one more next year but he won’t have a lot more races.

“It was near enough the best training performance of my life.”

O’Regan told Channel 4 Racing: “What a horse! I can’t believe it, it’s a dream. He’s a serious horse. I never panicked and I was never in any trouble. He just takes off. It was a good jump at the last and he did the rest.”

Wylie added: “I was quiet until he came over the last and then I was going crackers. It was a great performance by Howard Johnson, it’s just fantastic. We knew the horses were in good form and the good horses have run very well.”

Francois Doumen was adamant conditions went against runner-up Kasbah Bliss.

“I don’t like to make excuses – we’ve been beaten by a champion – but there’s no doubt he’s better on better ground,” said the French handler.

“It was quite slow and tacky out there, but who is to say Inglis Drever would not have preferred it that way as well?”

Irish trainer Eoin Griffin was bowled over by the performance of Kazal.

He said: “We are very proud of him as it was his first time at this level.

“I thought coming round the home turn we might just win, but what can you say about Inglis Drever?

“My fellow has run a cracker and we will now look at Punchestown.”