Detroit City left his rivals trailing at Cheltenham

The 6-5 favourite, ridden by Richard Johnson, cruised home by 14 lengths and is now rated joint favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March.

Ameeq, ridden by Ruby Walsh, was second with 50-1 shot Caraman third.

Johnson said: "I let him go from the top of the hill and he just eased home. He stays well but I never felt I was getting to the bottom of him."

606 COMMENT: Give your thoughts on Detroit City's win

Last season's Triumph Hurdle winner, trained in Somerset by Philip Hobbs, lifted the Cheltenham crowd as Johnson steered a wide course to leave his rivals struggling to keep in touch.

The four-year-old slowed slightly in the final furlongs but last month's Cesarewitch hero never looked in any danger of defeat.

The winner is now vying for favouritism for the Champion Hurdle with Ireland's 2006 winner Brave Inca.

Hobbs' previous Champion Hurdle-winning grey Rooster Booster, who was also ridden by Johnson and owned by Terry Warner, won the Greatwood Hurdle four years ago.

"On what he has done here you would have to consider him a candidate for the Champion Hurdle," said Johnson of Detroit City.

Detroit City's victory completed a near 66-1 treble on the day for Johnson and Hobbs.

They set the ball rolling when Fair Along, runner-up to Detroit City in the Triumph Hurdle, jumped brilliantly on his debut over fences and made all to claim the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase.

The 100-30 winner won by nine lengths from 8-11 favourite Natal, and was made a general 10-1 chance for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The hat-trick was completed when Massini's Maguire (6-1) stayed on well to win the Gideon Kasler Novices' Hurdle by half a length from Wichita Lineman.

Juveigneur, having a prep race for the Hennessy Gold Cup, was six lengths away in third.