Ebony Express could go in pursuit of glory at the Cheltenham Festival after coming up with the goods to deliver a shock victory in the William Hill Imperial Cup at Sandown.
In a race where few managed to get seriously involved, the 33-1 shot returned to winning ways to give his trainer Dr Richard Newland a first victory in the Grade Three handicap hurdle.
Having been close to the firing line throughout, the six-year-old held off the rallying advances of long-time leader and fellow outsider Rayvin Black by three-quarters of a length under Will Kennedy.
Newland's charge was cut to as short as 10-1 for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle and 12-1 for the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, with the latter looking the most likely target for the attempt to bag a £100,000 bonus.
Newland said: "When he won his first two races he was very impressive, then it went wrong at Catterick as I rushed to get a third run in. He was coughing a bit and I was a bit stupid to run him there.
"At Newbury he was running well when he was brought down and since then he has been very good and working ever so well.
"He had a little leg infection in the week, but the vet did a great job in getting that sorted.
"On his best form he had a good chance of winning today and it was just a question of whether he brought his 'A' game."
Only Martin and David Pipe have bagged the bonus for winning the Imperial Cup and a race at Cheltenham, and Newland added: "I have entered him in both races (Martin Pipe and County Hurdle) in case this happened. I would like to think he has a squeak of getting in the County Hurdle, as that is the preference."
Ruby Walsh gained victory in the colours he will be hoping to carry to glory in next week's Stan James Champion Hurdle aboard Faugheen when partnering Babylone Des Motte to a stylish success in the EBF Stallions TBA Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Held up early on in the two-mile Listed event, the Rich Ricci-owned, Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old (9-2) moved powerfully into contention before being ridden out inside the final furlong to win by a length.
Her task was made easier when favourite Whistle Dixie stumbled early on and unshipped Bryan Cooper, but horse and jockey emerged from the incident unscathed.
Ricci's representative Joe Chambers said: "We didn't want to waste her novice hurdle status at this time of year and as she is qualified to run in EBF events we thought we would take our chance and it paid off.
"Ruby felt he went a bit too soon, but he had to go for it. There is not a lot of her as she is only a pony, but she has completed her first step."
As De Mee may be set for a step up to Grade One company after leading home a one-two for trainer Paul Nicholls in the European Breeders' Fund William Hill National Hunt Novices Handicap Final.
Always travelling well in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies, the 8-1 shot cruised into the lead between the final two flights before seeing off the challenge off his stablemate Great Try by two lengths, securing Grade Three honours.
Nicholls said: "I always said to Andy (Stewart, joint-owner) he was a proper horse and that he would end the season rated 130 over hurdles.
"I will probably be brave enough to enter him in the Grade One novice hurdle at Aintree then put him away to go novice chasing next season.
"Someone mentioned the Martin Pipe to me, I hadn't really thought about it - if he's got a 5lb penalty and it got him into the race you'd be mad not to have a look, but I'd say it's probably very unlikely."
Andrew Thornton moved another step closer to his 1,000th career winner when making all aboard Ultimate Act in the William Hill Mobile Cheltenham Offers Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, to hand trainer Seamus Mullins his second winner at the track in as many days.
Trainer Oliver Sherwood will be hoping the victory of Financial Climate in the William Hill Supreme Guaranteed Return Offer Handicap Chase is a sign of things to come.
Sherwood, who trains leading Betfred Gold Cup hope Many Clouds, watched on as the 11-2 shot followed up his win at Chepstow with a hard-fought three-quarters-of-a-length victory in the extended three-mile contest under 5lb claimer Thomas Garner.
Adopting a patient approach seems to have been just the ticket for Traffic Fluide (11-8) who made it two wins from three starts in Britain with a clear-cut win the William Hill Daily Cheltenham Specials Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Winning trainer Gary Moore said: "The owners have been very good to me and let me have my way. It has been a slow build up with him as he is potentially a very nice horse.
"He could go for a £40,000 chase at Ascot."
The William Hill CheltenhamReady Handicap Chase went the way of Nigel Hawke's Anay Turge (7-1), who survived a blunder at the water jump to get the best of a battle up the hill with Dare To Endeavour by three-quarters of a length.
