Kargese produced a determined display to justify favouritism in the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle at
.
Last season’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up was a little keen early on for Paul Townend but they made a forward move from midfield on the turn for home and seemed set for a smooth success once striking the front.
The five-year-old faced a renewed challenge from Gordon Elliott’s Ndaawi on the run-in but was always doing enough to score at 3-1 and give Willie Mullins a record-extending eighth win in the race.