Ulaan Baatar - beaten at odds-on (Getty Images).

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Watson Lake jumped to the forefront of the Cheltenham picture after an authoritative display of front-running under Paul Carberry in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan.

Noel Meade's seven-year-old had not raced since winning the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse in late November, but he overturned odds-on favourite Ulaan Baatar and replaced Jessica Harrington's horse near the top of the betting for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

The Grade Two event looked like turning into the expected match when the pair drew well clear of the others in the back straight, but turning for home it became apparent that Ulaan Baatar was tiring. He was out on his feet over the last two fences.

Watson Lake, who was sent off at 3-1, won as he pleased in the end, coming home 20 lengths clear of his rival.

"We can dream again," said Meade, whose stable has been under a cloud of late.

"After his last run in the Drinmore he seemed to be OK, but when we started to trot him again we discovered he had pulled a little ligament.

"It has taken a while to build him back up, and 'Slippers' Madden has spent a lot of time with him.

"He has only done two bits of real work before today. The first was very good, but after the second, which was at Leopardstown racecourse, he finished very tired, which made me worried about today.

"He jumped so well, which made the difference. If he can relax as well at Cheltenham, that would be a big help."

Ulaan Baatar's trainer Jessica Harrington was not present, but jockey Barry Geraghty said: "He just went out like a light. The ground was very heavy and he stopped in it."

Watson Lake's Arkle price was slashed to as short as 6-1 after the race, while Ulaan Baatar's odds drifted to as big as 14-1. Another Irish horse, War Of Attrition, remains favourite.

Totesport spokesman Damien Walker said: "Noel Meade's horses are back in form and Watson Lake would be a danger to all on easy ground in the Arkle.

"Ulaan Bataar was very disappointing and had an extremely hard race. He has a mountain to climb if he is to bounce back in the Arkle."