Camping Ground streaked clear of his rivals for a brilliant victory in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.
A multiple winner in France before being snapped up by Robert Walford a year ago, two of the six-year-old's three previous starts in Britain had been over fences.
But having unseated his rider on his seasonal reappearance in Huntingdon's Peterborough Chase last month, Walford decided to switch his charge back to the smaller obstacles for this Grade Two contest and the plan came off in spectacular fashion.
The 10-1 shot travelled beautifully throughout in hands of dual Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell and took over the lead from last season's World Hurdle hero Cole Harden heading down the back straight.
It was clear running down the hill Camping Ground was still full of running and he rounded the turn for home in total command.
Aspell kept his mount up to his work after skipping over the final flight and he pulled further clear, passing the post 11 lengths clear of Lil Rockerfeller in second.
Cole Harden was nine lengths further back in third, just ahead of heavily-backed favourite Top Notch and long-absent mare Aurore D'Estruval.
"This is the first time I've sat on him. He had to step up on what he'd shown, but he relished conditions," said Aspell.
"In the ground, and over this trip, it's the first time he's had the opportunity to show his true ability in this country.
"Robert was very positive and certainly confident he would run a big race, but you're dipping your toes in deeper water.
"Robert is a very good trainer and knows what he has on his hands."
Seeyouatmidnight produced a brilliant front-running display to claim top honours in the BetBright #realfansonly Novices' Chase.
Sandy Thomson's northern raider was a beaten favourite on his chasing debut at Carlisle in November, but put that right at Kelso a month a later to earn himself a step up to Grade Two level in a race better known as the Dipper.
Brian Hughes sent the 7-2 winner straight to the lead from the outset and some prodigious leaps kept up the momentum.
While his rivals one by one started to come under pressure and fell away, Seeyouatmidnight was still trapping along running down the hill, with only Blaklion able to go with him rounding the home turn.
For a moment Blaklion looked like making a real race of it, but a quick jump at the final fence kept Thomson's charge in command and he galloped all the way to the line to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Hughes said: "It was a bold shout by Sandy coming here, but he loves that ground.
"He does go on better ground - he ran a good race in the World Hurdle here. He's a fair horse.
"He does it that hard way. I thought I went a good, even gallop, but he picked up when we turned in.
"He was probably getting a bit lonely in front, but it's a fair performance on his third run over fences.
"He's an out-and-out three-miler."
Thomson said: "We're so lucky to have him. He's an absolute star.
"He just does everything you ask of him and he's jumped brilliantly today.
"I said before dreams could be shattered today, but our dream's still alive.
"He'll go to Wetherby for the Towton (Novices' Chase) and obviously the RSA is the race I'd love to win (at the Festival).
"That would probably be the first preference. Whether that happens, though, I'm not sure as there are so many different opportunities."
Village Vic produced another scintillating round of jumping from the front to secure the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase.
The Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old has suffered his fair share of problems in recent seasons, but proved when bounding clear in December's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup he is in the form of his life.
Sent off the 7-2 favourite to defy an 8lb higher mark in another fiercely competitive heat, Village Vic was soon bowling along merrily at the head of affairs and saw off his rivals one by one under Richard Johnson on his way to another impressive victory.
Tenor Nivernais came home well to fill the runner-up spot, beaten three lengths, just ahead of Top Gamble in third.
Johnson said: "He jumped well, apart from the second, but the ground is very testing. Even for horses that handle soft ground it's hard work.
"Because he's quite free-going, when it's heavy you're always worried you're doing a bit too much, but he's so enthusiastic and jumps so well. He enjoys it so we try to let him get on with it.
"He was a lovely horse as a youngster and had his problems after his novice hurdle days. It's just taken a while to get him back, but the owner has been very patient and the yard has done very well to get him back in very good form.
"I think one of the handicaps (at the Festival) will be what he'll be aimed at. Two-and-a-half (miles) looks the ideal trip for him."
Champers On Ice also pulled out plenty from the front to record a gritty win in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.
In a race which few got into, the well-supported 7-2 joint-favourite survived a stewards' inquiry to follow up his inaugural victory over hurdles at Newbury last time out.
Winning jockey Tom Scudamore received a one-day ban for careless riding.
Trainer David Pipe said: "We thought the softer ground and more galloping track would play to his strengths.
"If he comes back here in March I would say it would be for the Albert Bartlett, although he will have an entry in both (Neptune)."
The Fergal O'Brien-trained Perfect Candidate opened his account for the season when showing bags of stamina to clinch the Watch Live Racing On BetBright.com Handicap Chase under Paddy Brennan at 4-1.
O'Brien said: "I am delighted with that, the owners have been great to me and it's nice to have a winner here for them.
"We will enter him in the National, but that might be a year too soon."
Tom Lacey's progressive gelding Singlefarmpayment ran out a decisive winner of the BetBright Casino Handicap Hurdle.
The 7-2 favourite moved smoothly into contention and found an extra gear up the hill to get the better of loveable veteran Knockara Beau by three and a half lengths.
Lacey said: "He's always been highly strung and on his first few runs for us he was just in a white sweat and we just had to bring him along quietly and look after him.
"It's been a joy to have him and a good project and the patience has paid off in the end.
"It was a big step up today and I think we can be a bit more ambitious."
Capeland and Sam Twiston-Davies eventually wore down the strong-travelling Jam Session to claim the EBF Stallions & Cheltenham Pony Club Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Following a well-publicised disappointing December, this was a second New Year's Day winner for champion trainer Paul Nicholls following Emerging Talent's victory at Exeter.
Nicholls said of the 7-4 favourite: "He's a lovely big four-year-old and we'll give him one more run a bumper and then put him away to go hurdling. We might go to Newbury in six weeks' time.
"Horses like this want time, but I thought he'd go well today."
