Cause Of Causes gave his owner JP McManus a special 64th birthday present when opening his account over fences in the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
Jamie Codd kept the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old at the rear of the field for most of the four-mile stamina test before producing him to lead before they steered round the bypassed final fence.
Cause Of Causes (8-1) galloped on resolutely to keep Broadway Buffalo (12-1) at bay by a length and a half and do his Crabbie's Grand National hopes no harm. The Job Is Right was five lengths back in third.
What should have been the final fence was omitted due to the fall of Theatre Queen, who was later put down as a result of her injuries.
Codd said of his victory: "It's just fantastic, to do it for Gordon, who have I been associated with a long time, is fantastic, it's magic.
"I didn't know it was JP's birthday - to do it for Gordon and JP is special."
However, it was not all good news for Codd as he given a 10-day ban and fined £400 after the stewards found him guilty of misusing his whip.
The stewards concluded Codd had used his whip above the permitted level and in a manner that caused his horse to be wealed and he will be notified of the days of his suspension in due course.
Elliott said: "I thought he was going to win here last year (second in the Kim Muir) when he made a bad mistake at the last.
"He was in really good order and he started coming to himself in the last couple of weeks. There was a worry over his stamina, but Jamie rode him accordingly and gave him a great ride. He's in the National and we will have a look at that.
"I'm delighted to train a winner for JP at Cheltenham and it's great to get a winner on the Tuesday."
Aintree could also be on the agenda for the runner-up, according to trainer David Pipe.
He said: "He ran a cracker. We thought four miles would bring some improvement and it did. He's a tough old customer and he will run in the Grand National, if he gets in."
Irish Cavalier capped a fine day for jockey Paul Townend when lifting the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices' Handicap Chase.
Successful on Glens Melody in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle, Townend delivered the Rebecca Curtis-trained grey to lead on the run-in after Horizontal Speed had taken the field to the last, to complete a big-day double.
There were several in with chances at the final fence, but Irish Cavalier (11-1) came out on top as he strode gamely up the hill to win by two and a half lengths from 6-1 favourite Thomas Crapper.
Generous Ransom (8-1) was half a length away in third and Horizontal Speed (12-1) was fourth.
Curtis said: "I always fancied him for this, but it didn't look like he was going to win halfway through the race. I knew if he got a bit of light he would stay on up the hill.
"He's crying out for three miles and I could have put him in the chase earlier in the day, but we would have been taking on seasoned handicappers so I decided to stick to the shorter trip against novices.
"I don't think the cheekpieces made a huge difference as he stayed on here the last time without them.
"He had been running on heavy ground all winter and I think he wanted better ground even though he handles soft, as he's a better horse on good ground."
Earlier, The Druids Nephew enhanced his claims for the Grand National when striding out a ready winner of the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Brought into the 25-furlong contest on the final circuit after Annacotty had made the running with Azure Fly and Grand Jesture, The Druids Nephew (8-1) hit the front two out.
Barry Geraghty kept the eight-year-old galloping strongly to score by three and three-quarter lengths from Grand Jesture (25-1) and give Neil Mulholland his first Festival winner.
Gallant Oscar was a length and a half away in third, with Indian Castle fourth (16-1) and Pendra (9-1), ridden by Tony McCoy, fifth.
Geraghty said: "He jumped nicely. Every time I gave him a squeeze, he quickened.
"It's only when you come here (Cheltenham) you realise what it means (to have a winner).
"Everyone wants to ride a winner so it's good to have got one on the board."
Mulholland said: "We've kept him for this for a while and thankfully it's paid off.
"Barry knows the horse now, he's ridden him in the past and the horse was in great order.
"I thought the horse was in the best condition we've had him in. It's very important for us. That's our 53rd winner since May, including the Flat, so we're delighted. Things are going well, but it's all about Cheltenham. This is our World Cup."
Of the Grand National, Mulholland added: "I'll have to have a word with Barry about it. I'm not going to talk it up now, it's all for another day and I want to enjoy this first.
"This has been the plan for a while. We gave him a freshener over hurdles as we knew he already had solid handicap form.
"When he ran behind Sam Winner here, we ran him not knowing if he would stay but he proved that day he did.
"Barry and I have been friendly for a long time so we have a good relationship and it helps having someone to bounce ideas off."
