Blue Canyon struck for the French with a comfortable success in the totesport Hurdle.
Sue Smith's Royal Emperor, reverting to hurdles after losing his way over fences, set out to make the running with Tony McCoy ploughing a lone furrow up the inside on Blue Canyon.
The leader's stable companion Patriarch Express was going well in third place when he fell heavily four out as Blue Canyon began to take closer order.
Royal Emperor still held a good lead two from home but on the run to the last Blue Canyon threw down a strong challenge.
Quickening well on the testing ground, Francois Doumen's runner drew clear to score by two lengths.
The victory earned Blue Canyon a quote of 14-1 from Ladbrokes, William Hill and the sponsors for the totesport Gold Trophy.
Blue Canyon had finished last of seven on his previous start at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and Doumen said: "Obviously, it is a big improvement from last time."
"We did say the horse prefers to go left-handed and as he had never run right-handed in France we had to find out, it will never be done again."
"He also jumped better today and he likes the soft ground and Tony found a big improvement in the horse. He is a new purchase for J P McManus and I needed to prove that he wasn't a bad horse."
When asked about the Gold Trophy, Doumen added: "I will have to think about that."
Doumen also reported his stable star Baracouda to have never been better and stronger .
Filed by Katie Byrne
