Trainer Sir Michael Stoute was winning the race for a second consecutive year after Opinion had struck 12 months ago.

Brave trailblazer Salutation (25-1) had the field well stretched out long before the home turn, at which point Dashing Star’s once promising effort wilted.

The same cannot be said for the winner, who always had the eventual runner-up in his sights and impressively stamped his authority on proceedings from at the summit of the weights.

Havana Cooler finished third, another length and a quarter in arrears of the winner.

Elidor was fourth for the Mick Channon team.

Moore said: ``He's straightforward, jumps well and we got a good spot as we weren't going mad.

“We’ve always liked the horse and he’s four from four this year. Hopefully he’ll go on again.

“He’s been trained beautifully. He didn’t race until just over a year ago and then he went wrong, but he’s come back this year and he’s nice and progressive.”

Arab Spring will now step up in class, with a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp the ultimate aim.

Peter Reynolds, general manager for owners Ballymacoll Stud, said: “This was certainly the plan.

“Michael takes these horses along slowly. We’ll take it stage by stage, but hopefully he’s finished with handicaps now.

“He has some serious entries, which is wonderful, including the Champion Stakes (Leopardstown) and the Arc.

“The Arc is the one race the Weinstock family and Ballymacoll Stud haven’t had a winner of yet and we’d love to do it, so if he’s good enough to get to the Arc, he might just be there.

“It’s a fantastic training performance from Michael, the way he’s brought him on, and Ryan said he has some nice speed.”