Champion trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies got off the mark for this year's Festival as French recruit Aux Ptits Soins edged ahead in a pulsating Coral Cup at Cheltenham.
The five-year-old lined up for this fiercely-competitive handicap as a fascinating contender, making his first start in Britain and his first appearance since winning at Auteuil last autumn.
After overcoming a significant mistake at the second flight, Twiston-Davies kept things fairly simple and was never too far off the pace.
The 9-1 shot looked like running out a comprehensive winner as he rounded the home turn still on the bridle, but front-running Irish raider Zabana would not go down without a fight.
Favourite Activial joined the party after the final hurdle, with Taglietelle also making late gains, but the Nicholls runner triumphed by a neck, with Zabana the same distance ahead of Activial in second.
Twiston-Davies said: "It was great. He travelled so easily and was probably not in a very happy position.
"I didn't want to go on three out but he was very honest.
"I'm delighted to get one on the board."
Nicholls said: "He's run a blinder. He shown us plenty at home but I was worried he was inexperienced.
"He's obviously very good but I thought he might be one for next year.
"To be fair to Nick Scholfield (jockey), he said he's the best horse he's ever sat on.
"I wasn't expecting any (winners) on Tuesday but it's nice to have a winner."
Qualando completed a treble on the afternoon for Paul Nicholls by beating stable companion Bouvreuil in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Already on the mark with Aux Ptits Soins in the Coral Cup and Dodging Bullets in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the champion trainer fired three shots at this well-contested handicap, with Qualando sent on his way at 25-1 under Nick Scholfield.
Bouvreuil did his best to make a race of it after the final obstacle, but Qualando was a length and a half too strong.
Patiently ridden The Saint James was third, with the front-running Starchitect boxing on for fourth.
Scholfield said: "Over the first four hurdles, I was in top gear, and going as quick as I could.
"I just let the race develop as I knew he'd stay well. Two out, when I gave him some room, he really picked up and came home well."
Nicholls' other contender, All Yours, finished fifth. The Ditcheat handler said: "All three of ours are nice horses. Sam (Twiston-Davies) just got into a bit of trouble of All Yours.
"The second horse has run a really nice race, but when the winner was dropped 2lb for his first run I thought we'd take advantage of that.
"There was nothing between the three of them, and I thought they'd all go well. It's good to give Nick winner as he's a big part of the team."
