It was fifth time lucky for Golden Silver against Big Zeb and he had to overcome some poor early jumping to collar the Champion Chase winner close to the finish.
In contrast, Big Zeb and Sizing Europe were fluent and graceful over the fences and it was Big Zeb who hit the front with three fences remaining.
Sizing Europe suddenly found the pace too strong on this drop in trip and Big Zeb kicked clear approaching the final two fences with victory in sight. But in behind, Golden Silver was jumping soundly again and hurtling after the leader. An excellent leap at the last brought him almost level under jockey Paul Townend.
And, with his new-found momentum, Golden Silver ran on strongly to gain his revenge. Sizing Europe was third.
Mullins said: "We're keeping our options open as regards Cheltenham. I was thinking about the Ryanair more than the Champion Chase but after that maybe a strongly run two miles and waiting tactics is better.
"He's had plenty of races but seems to be thriving on it and I'm not ruling out running him again [before Cheltenham]."
Townend added: "I just let him find his way and he flew the last two. At Navan and Leopardstown we were always coming at Big Zeb at the line and we said we'd follow him today.
"I thought they'd gone turning in, but he picked up well. He got his head down and winged the last."
Big Zeb's trainer Colm Murphy said: "The plan remains the same [to go to Cheltenham], the only problem today was the result! I'm a little disappointed but he flew the third and fourth-last and he was possibly in front too soon."
The winner was slashed in price to as short as 8/1 by many bookmakers for the Queen Mother Champion Chase although Skybet were less impressed and offer Golden Silver at best-price 12/1. Meanwhile, the vanquished Big Zeb was pushed out to best-price 7/2 (Bet365).
The Ryanair Chase is also a Cheltenham option, however, and he was cut to best-price 12/1 (William Hill) for that race.
The added significance of the race is that Somersby's connections now appear more tempted to try the Champion Chase than the Ryanair. The longer race had been Somersby's expected target for much of the season until, he ran Master Minded to a short-head at Ascot eight days ago.
"With Big Zeb getting beaten, the race does look a little more open and I'd say that's where he'd be heading," said Terry Biddlecombe, the husband of Somersby's trainer, Henrietta Knight. "He's absolutely bouncing and I think he can go there and run a very big race.
"That was the just seventh start of his life over fences and he's still improving all the time. Although he stays two miles well and looks as if he will get further, I'd hate to run him in the Ryanair and look stupid when he doesn't get the trip.
"If they don't go quick enough for him at Cheltenham, he could always help to make [the running] himself. He's done that before and it would help to give him a good look at his fences."
Somersby is as short as 7/1 for the Champion Chase but available at best-price 10/1 with 888sport.
Mullins five winners yesterday were recorded from just eight runners with Paul Townend's win on Golden Silver one of four for the jockey, while the trainer's son Patrick was aboard Celtic Folklore in the finale.
Gagewell Flyer was given a best-price quote of 33/1 (Victor Chandler) for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle after maintaining his unbeaten record over timber in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.
Townend made all of the running and although he put the race to bed some way out on the 13/8 favourite, stablemate Earlson Gray closed to within a neck on his first run for the yard.
Mullins said: "I'm delighted with both horses. I brought Gagewell Flyer back to two miles to get more experience of a fast-run race into him and to get him jumping faster. He'll probably go for the Neptune Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham now."
Another with possible Festival aspirations is Some Target, who easily landed the Grand National Trial on his handicap debut. He is now quoted at as short as 16/1 for the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Festival, but is still available at standout best-price 33/1 with Skybet.
Raptor was the fourth winner for Mullins and Townend in the Mianach Venture Capital Maiden Hurdle. Mullins said of his debutant: "I saw him in the parade ring in France and I thought he was a beautiful horse.
"At the same time, my wife Jackie saw him on the television and rang to ask me what the beautiful grey horse was, so we ended up buying him. He deserves an Albert Bartlett entry after that - he was only getting going at the end there."
Raptor can be backed at best-price 25/1 (Stan James) for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.
Mullins will be hoping his red-hot form can continue to next Sunday when Kempes and Cooldine will line up in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
After racing at Punchestown, they chased Dr PJ Moriarty Chase-bound Mikael D'Haguenet who also jumped nine fences under Townend.
Mullins said: "I was delighted with that and they all jumped well and the riders were very happy. Kempes and Cooldine will run next Sunday and the plan is to run Mikael D'Haguenet in the Moriarty along with Quel Esprit."
Away from the action, connections of Forpadydeplasterer yesterday revealed that they are still hopeful that their superstar chaser can return to the track in time for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.
The Grade One-winning Irish raider pulled up in the King George VI Chase at Kempton two weeks ago and has been sick ever since, but trainer Tom Cooper believes that there is still hope for the 2009 Arkle winner.
Despite being found clinically abnormal after the King George, Cooper explained:
"He's very good this week. He's trotting round the roads now. Hopefully we'll see him run again this season, but we'll just sit tight for the minute. We'll keep the options at Cheltenham open for the time being."
Forpadydeplasterer has been entered in the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and totesport Gold Cup as the team behind the popular horse keep their Cheltenham Festival options open.
For the latest bookmakers free bets and Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.
Somersby may now be aimed at the Champion Chase following Big Zeb's defeat in Ireland yesterday
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