Ptit Zig (evens favourite) took his unbeaten record over fences to four with a clear-cut success in the Grade Two BetBright Novices' Chase (registered as the Dipper Chase) at Cheltenham.
Ptit Zig got upsides leader Champagne West at the final obstacle to pull away up the hill and win readily in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies.
The winning margin was six lengths, and the first two pulled 19 lengths clear of the remainder.
Twiston-Davies said: "(I'm) very happy, the ground wasn't as we expected, it was a bit tacky which he didn't like.
"It was quite a messy race, everyone wanted to be handy, but he was very professional and jumped neatly.
"Paul said going out he felt he could get him better for March, so come the Festival he must have a great chance.
"Champagne West is his hardest test to date and he's a horse we like."
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "Sam said that he raced a bit lazily today and that he hit a flat spot two out, but he winged the last and I was very pleased with the way he picked up the leader.
"It was his fourth run in a short period of time but I wanted to get experience of Cheltenham into him.
"I won't run him in the Arkle and while I think he will get three miles in time, he'll be heading for the JLT at the Festival.
"I'll give him a break and find something in mid-February such as the Pendil at Kempton, while Irish Saint could run in the Scilly Isles at Sandown.
"He'll definitely stay further and don't be surprised if he's a King George horse next year."
Nicholls also struck with Mon Parrain (25-1), who sparked a 269-1 double for promising 5lb claimer Sean Bowen in the BetBright On Mobile Handicap Chase.
Helped by the application of blinkers for the first time, the nine-year-old stepped up on his two previous starts to win by a length from Our Father.
"He was never going at Aintree last time, but I put some blinkers on him yesterday and he just took off in them," said Nicholls.
"He has had his problems and you have to be careful with him, but I'll put him in the National and he might end up being Sean's first ride in the race."
Jamie Bargary proved an able last-minute deputy as he drove Splash Of Ginge to victory in the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase.
Called up after Ryan Hatch suffered a suspected broken collarbone following a fall in the previous race, Bargary took his chance with both hands to land the biggest success of his fledgling career.
Nigel Twiston-Davies's charge had looked unlucky when falling on his previous start on this track and made amends in great style.
Always travelling sweetly, Splash Of Ginge (9-2 favourite) took the lead from Hunt Ball at the second last and kept on strongly to beat that rival by three and a quarter lengths.
Bargary said: "I can't say how sorry I am for poor Ryan, he had a great day ahead of him.
"To miss the ride on this lad, who is so special to him (won the Betfair Hurdle), he's now very special to me, too.
"I jumped off in a lovely position early on and he was tanking with me, when we came down to the last I think he gave it about two foot."
Twiston-Davies said: "Although it was only his sixth winner, Jamie is very good as he showed with a faultless display of jockeyship on his first ride without his 10lb claim.
"It will now be back to the novice route and the JLT is the one. I suppose Ptit Zig will be shaking in his shoes to hear that."
Bowen followed up his win on Mon Parrain by booting Rolling Maul (10-1) home for his father, Peter, in the BetBright Casino Handicap Hurdle.
Also equipped with blinkers for the first time, Rolling Maul led at the second-last and was kept up to his work to hold Knight Of Noir by three-quarters of a length.
"Sean has been a natural since day one. I have a lot of confidence in him and this horse jumped particularly well for him," said the trainer.
Jockey Noel Fehily and trainer Harry Fry enjoyed a 20-1 double with Thomas Brown (5-1) and Rock On Ruby (5-2).
The latter was recording his fourth course success in the Dornan Engineering Hurdle as the 2012 Champion Hurdle hero saw off Vaniteux by two and a half lengths.
Fry said: "The reception he got says it all. He's turned 10 yet is still showing the young horses how it's done.
"He's got such a good record here it would almost be a sin not to come in March and the one race for him is the World Hurdle which means stepping him up in trip, but he'll get the entry."
Thomas Brown gave a battling front-running display to gain a narrow success over Robinsfirth in the Neptune Investment Management Novices'Hurdle.
Fry said: "This was valuable experience of Cheltenham. He's obviously an out-and-out stayer and there's no point looking at anything else other than the Albert Bartlett over three miles."
Wishfull Dreaming (4-1), a full brother to this season's Old Roan and Peterborough Chase winner Wishfull Thinking, got off the mark in the EBF Cheltenham Pony Club Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race for owner Diana Whateley, trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Tom O'Brien.
