L'Ami Serge, with Barry Geraghty in the saddle, ran out a most impressive winner of the 32Red Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown
The Grade One novice event attracted just four runners, and after Shelford had made the running the big two of the Nicky Henderson-trained winner and market rival Jolly's Cracked it arrived powerfully on the scene at the second-last.
Sent off as the 4-9 market leader, the five-year-old L'Ami Serge quickened smartly from there, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides under Geraghty in what was very testing ground.
Jolly's Cracked It was left to settle for second, some 14 lengths back, while rank outsider Thelordbewithyou took third after a tired fall for Shelford at the last.
After the race, Barry Geraghy said: "You'd have to be impressed. His two previous wins were good, but he's stepped up here.
Shelford was well beaten when he fell and he had good form from Ascot (fourth in The Ladbroke).
"It was bit hard work on the ground through the race, but I think that's just a reflection of his age, he's only just turning five and to win the way he did was very good.
"Better ground wouldn't be a problem, he coped with that ground but he's a lovely mover and you'd imagine decent ground should suit him."
RaceBets cut the winner to 6-1 from 12-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
