He subsequently failed to cut the mustard when upped to full company at Punchestown in April and he was having his first start since that comprehensive beating at the hands of Hurricane Fly.

The eight-year-old was still sent off the 8-11 favourite for this Grade Two event though and he looked a little ring-rusty as Brian O’Connell let him hack around at the back of the field as Luska Lad set the rhythm.

However, his jumping improved as the pace turned up a notch at halfway and he was travelling sweetly two-out as he moved upsides.

Luska Lad made a good race of it though and they were together coming to the last but a good leap from Dunguib sealed the win and he pulled three and a half lengths clear.

Fenton was delighted to see Dunguib get back on track and the Cheltenham Festival is now on his agenda again.

“I’m very pleased with that on a number of counts. Firstly it was good to get his first run of the season under his belt,” said the trainer.

“Secondly, he was an extremely fit horse five or six weeks ago and while he recovered from his infection (which resulted in a bad blood count), each week we were seeing improvement in him.

“We were lucky today’s race was put back as I’ve been much happier with him in the last 10 days.

“It was great not to have too hard a race today and it was just what he needed. He settled after a few hurdles today and his jumping improved as the pace increased and he was slick over the last three flights.

“We’ll go straight for the Champion Hurdle now and today will keep the dream alive for another while.”

Rubi Light struck for home early in the Grade Two Red Mills Chase and his early run resulted in a 10-length verdict.

The six-year-old was already a winner over fences in France when joining Robbie Hennessy’s team and has proved a little tricky to place as a result.

However, Andrew Lynch was very positive throughout on the 7-1 shot and after pushing on at halfway, he had too much of an advantage over 5-4 favourite Roberto Goldback and came home a comfortable victor.

Hennessy said: “Rubi Light is probably one of the best jumpers in Ireland.

“He always was a great jumper but it is a pity he won over fences in France last season because that ruled him out of novice status here.

“We had a few quid on him at 200-1 for the Ryanair Chase yesterday and that race is now a big possibility. He’ll also be entered in a few handicaps but may now be too highly rated.

“The deeper the ground is, the better it is for him.”

Tawaagg (11-10 favourite) scored a poignant success for Willie Mullins in the opening Ronan Lawlor Memorial Beginners Chase.

The race was named in honour of the young rider, who was a good friend of the Mullins family and died following a tragic fall on the gallops a year ago.

Tawaagg certainly did connections proud though, hitting the front at the final obstacle before running on for an eight-length verdict under Paul Townend.

Mullins said: “You’d have to be happy with Tawaagg after that as he hates that ground.

“Paul said he jumped a bit sticky early on and while he’ll have to brush up on that, he could be a stone better on better ground.”

Former Henry Cecil inmate Rigidity (4-1 favourite) scored a bloodless victory in the Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle as he made his debut for trainer Edward O’Grady.

However, O’Grady may bide his time with the four-year-old despite the Indian Ridge gelding being slashed in price for a couple of races at the Festival.

He said: “I’ll have a chat with Rigidity’s owner (Thomas Barr) before making a decision, but my gut feeling is to maybe run him in a winners’ of one hurdle at Limerick in the middle of March before going to Aintree.

“He’s the type of horse who may need to strengthen up a bit.”