Paul Townend – riding the nine-year-old for the first time with Sean Bowen required at Wetherby – immediately sent the Rebecca Curtis-trained Irish and Welsh National hero to the front, with Banbridge keeping him company at the head of the five-runner field.

Gordon Elliott’s 11-8 favourite Romeo Coolio was the first of the principals to be beaten two furlongs out, with in contrast Haiti Couleurs (8-1) full of determination in front, putting his head down to in the end home home four and three-quarter lengths clear of Fleur In The Park.

Curtis said: “That was brilliant. He is always good fresh. We decided on it (Down Royal) about a month ago. Obviously, with his rating now he is out of handicaps. He was quite hard to place.

“It is a great experience coming here, the owners love it.

“If you are ever going to go for a Grade One, now would be the time before the Mullins brigade and a few others are out.

“That’s what we thought (make it a test off the front). I just thought at certain points in the race if he was happy or travelling as well as he can, but he found a second wind.

“The ground wouldn’t have been ideal, not because he doesn’t go on it, but it doesn’t play to his strengths.

“It is nice to know that he can do that and go that speed in a Grade One. We were scratching our heads with the Gold Cup, but I don’t think he was himself that day – Sean swears he wasn’t and his coat was yellowy. At least now we can pinpoint certain races and give him loads of time.

“I would definitely look at the Denman Chase (Grade Two, Newbury) again with him. Paul has actually suggested Auteuil, the Grand Steeple-Chase would really suit him, so that might be a target.”

On the link-up with Townend, Curtis added: “Paul used to come over and ride a lot of mine years ago. We’ve always had quite a good relationship and when we knew we couldn’t have Sean, you wouldn’t get a better replacement.”

Townend said: “This race isn’t targeted by Willie (Mullins), as a rule nearly, so I always wanted to have a good crack at it.

“Kemboy ran a cracker in it a couple of years ago. I thought Sean has a lot of commitments and that the ride might be going spare.

“He looked to be at his best when he was fresh and I thought it was a race that might work out.

“Rebecca, when she puts her eye on a prize like that, she isn’t too far away either.”

Although out of luck with Romeo Coolio, Elliott still secured a double as Kala Conti (5-6 favourite) made all to beat stablemate Jacob’s Ladder in the Grade Two Racing Post Chase, after Skerry Hill (2-13 favourite) had been a class apart in coasting to a 32-length victory in the Lough Construction Maiden Hurdle.

Elliott said of Kala Conti: “She looked like she was just getting into the race in Aintree when she fell three out.

“A different filly on good ground, I’d imagine she will go down the mares’ route.

“I think he (Jacob’s Ladder) could be more of a handicapper.”

Skerry Hill is unbeaten in three starts and Elliott added: “I’ve got a lot of nice horses, but I think this lad is very good.

“I’d have loved for something to go on and get a lead, but there was no point in dropping him in. They went a fair gallop and he did it well. Jack (Kennedy) said he felt like he was in second gear the whole way.”

The two-day meeting finished with a shock as the SIS, Proud Sponsors Of Irish Racing (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race went the way of 100-1 chance Staton, trained by Paul Traynor.