Punjabi put the seal on a fine first-season partnership for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty with a thrilling victory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

The forgotten horse from the stable of hot favourite Binocular edged out his stablemate to third, beaten a neck and a head, with Paul Nicholls' Celestial Halo separating the pair in a three-way photo.

Geraghty, who was completing a 206-1 double after winning the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy on Forpadydeplasterer, said: "I thought I had Ruby (Walsh, on Celestial Halo) well covered turning in. He ran on really well, he was all out, it was a great performance.

"I tipped a Nicky Henderson one-two. There was one in between but it's brilliant. It's my first winner for Nicky at Cheltenham, as well."

Henderson added: "It takes you back. Those great days of (three-time Champion Hurdle winner) See You Then were very special and it's nice to be back with horses that can do this sort of thing.

"Punjabi has always been a very talented horse and Barry gets on very well with him."

Geraghty's winning margin on Forpadydeplasterer was a mere short-head as Tom Cooper's chaser just held Kalahari King.

"He missed a few days over Christmas before the Irish Arkle and this race has been the plan all along," said Cooper.

"Barry is a genius, the man for the big occasion, and his record here is just amazing."

Out of luck on Binocular, Tony McCoy excelled himself even by his high standards to win the William Hill Trophy on the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Wichita Lineman.

Only third over the final fence, O'Neill clawed back the leader Maljimar up the hill to score by a neck.

McCoy said: "Jonjo fancied him like mad – I'm glad the owner (JP McManus) listened to him and not me (and ran him in this race).

"The trainer's got him absolutely spot on."

O'Neill added: "That is what McCoy's all about – he was just magic, brilliant.

"The horse made a few mistakes during the race, which didn't help him.

"But when he got him running I knew when he gave him a kick at the top of the hill there was a bit in the tank.

"There was every chance they might come back to him a little bit.

"Even going to the last I thought he had too much to make up, really.

"Magic man, magic horse."

Wichita Lineman's owner JP McManus celebrated his 58th birthday with a double when Garde Champetre, ridden by Nina Carberry, headed home a one-two-three in his colours in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase over the cross-country course.

"That was nice," said McManus of the Enda Bolger-trained trio.

"I didn't know which one to fancy but thankfully for me the right one won as I had a few quid each-way – but the problem is I didn't have enough on!"

Carberry's brother Paul made a winning return from injury when taking the williamhill.com Supreme Novices' Hurdle for Noel Meade.

Quevega, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Walsh, gave the Irish their fourth victory of the day when running away with the concluding David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.