Rebecca Curtis saw her patience and perseverance rewarded as O'Faolains Boy opened up avenues to a host of big-race targets with victory in the David Martin Graduation Chase at Newbury.
Although pulling up on his first start in more than 18 months at Ascot last month on his return from injury, the eight-year-old bounced back to form in the near three-mile prize to record his first victory since last year's RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
"What route we go down, we'll see how he improves throughout the season and make that decision later on, but he'll definitely have an entry" - Rebecca Curtis
Making most of the running under Noel Fehily, the 100-30 shot jumped efficiently throughout, saving enough at the end to draw emphatically clear of Sausalito Sunrise and score by 15 lengths.
Curtis said: "I was really pleased with that. He's back to his best and hopefully should come on a lot for it. Noel said he was just idling in front and that he had plenty left.
"After the RSA we hoped he'd be a Gold Cup horse. If he keeps improving, we still have that in mind.
"For the time being he's entered in the Welsh National and is on a nice mark for that. We just have to judge him and see how he is next week.
"He was very good with his jumping and I think he might make into a National horse as well.
"What route we go down, we'll see how he improves throughout the season and make that decision later on, but he'll definitely have an entry."
Harry Fry is to alter his plans for Charmix following his ready success in the British Stallion Studs EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
After only finding the smart Modus too good last time out the five-year-old added to his debut win over hurdles when readily drawing clear of the opposition from the front for a 17-length success.
Fry said of his 5-2 winner: "I thought we would struggle to give the weight away to be honest and I am a bit taken back by that.
"He ran well behind Modus last time and I came here thinking we would get our third run over hurdles with a view to going to the Lanzarote, but I am not quite sure that will be on the agenda now as the handicapper might have something to say."
There are few things that leave champion trainer Paul Nicholls surprised but the victory of Clan Des Obeaux (2-1) did just that in the Blackmore Building Juvenile Hurdle.
Built for chasing, the three-year-old made his first start for the Ditcheat handler a winning one in the extended two-mile event when casting aside his rivals by 21 lengths to earn an opening show quote of 20-1 for the Triumph Hurdle with Paddy Power.
Nicholls said: "That was brilliant, but we didn't expect to win that. He is big, chasing-bred horse and is the mirror of As De Mee. I sold Paul (Barber) half a share as he likes chasers for the future.
"He is an embryonic chaser, but we now might go for some decent juvenile races on soft ground, something like Cheltenham in January could be an option."
Wait For Me (30-100) benefited from the type of pacemaking duties more associated with the Flat when obliging in the Events Bar Management Maiden Hurdle.
Having finished second behind Buveur D'Air on his debut over hurdles at the track last month, the Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old picked up his front-running stablemate Allee Bleue late on, passing the post six lengths to the good of Potters Legend.
Hobbs said: "It was a case of 'job done'. He does not want this ground and will be a better horse on better ground.
"It was not really the plan for Allee Bleue to give him a lead. With all these runners in the race there was nothing to make the running and it has actually helped us."
Woolstone One (11-4) made a winning introduction for trainer Harry Whittington in the concluding newburyracecourse.co.uk Fillies' "Junior" Standard Open National Hunt Flat, while the Ben Pauling-trained Local Show (7-2) defied an absence of 288 days to take the CSP Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Denis O'Regan got his timing spot on aboard Exmoor Mist (9-4) in the Powersolve Electronics Greatwood Charity Handicap Chase when producing the Victor Dartnall-trained gelding as late as possible to follow up his win at Leicester.
