Denman won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown

The seven-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, saw off Mossbank who just pipped 2006 winner The Listener for the runners-up position.

"I hardly had to move on his back. He knows exactly what he has to do," said winning jockey Ruby Walsh.

"He is a big old-fashioned Irish chaser and is a hell of a horse."

Three-time race winner Beef Or Salmon stayed on after the last and was far from disgraced in fourth.

Denman was left unchanged at 2-1 with VC Bet for the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Mossbank was cut to 33-1 from 50s.

Stan James opted to cut the winner to 7-4 from 2-1.