Trainer Andrew Lynch is looking forward to testing Zabana's powers at the highest level at Leopardstown today ahead of a likely return to the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Last year's Coral Cup runner-up made a successful start to his career over fences at Christmas and now takes in the Flogas Novice Chase.
"I was absolutely thrilled with his first run over fences. I thought he might need it a bit as it was his first run back but he did it really well," said Lynch.
"He should definitely get up the hill at Cheltenham. When he was second at the Festival last year in the Coral Cup he just did a bit of a U-turn after the last - I think if he had run straight, he might have got to the winner.
"The ground doesn't matter a bit to him - he goes equally well on anything. He is a very exciting horse and hopefully we can keep him right and head to Cheltenham."