Dan Skelton is likely to aim Kasakh Noir at the Fred Winter rather than the Triumph Hurdle despite taking his record to two from three at Market Rasen in the Racing UK Winter Season Ticket Juvenile Hurdle.
It was a hard-fought victory over John Ferguson's Wolfcatcher, the odds-on favourite, with Harry Skelton needing all his strength to force him home by a short head.
The 5-4 shot's only defeat came behind a pair of subsequent winners in Fixe Le Kap and Tommy Silver, but Skelton feels the handicap route might be the way to go at Cheltenham next month.
"He'll probably improve for better ground, but they were both rated 133 and have run exactly to their marks," said Skelton.
"Off that rating he'd face a monumental task in the Triumph, so it's more likely he'll go for the Fred Winter.
"Even though he's doing well as a hurdler, there's no doubt he'll make a cracking chaser in time."
Skelton was also on the mark at Sedgefield with Yes I Did (1-3 favourite), an easy winner for Bridget Andrews.
"It looked a glorious opportunity for her and it worked out. She's a nice mare," he added.
Brian Ellison continues to bang in the winners and Point The Way (4-1) maintained an unbeaten start to his hurdling career in the EBF Stallions "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
The five-year-old made all under Megan Carberry, for whom it was a notable success, being her first over hurdles.
"He's a solid horse, he's unbeaten over hurdles and won a bumper. He's qualified for finals at Sandown and Sedgefield and I'd say he'll run in one of those next," said Ellison.
Spencer Lea, off the track for over 700 days, came from last to first to win the Eric And Lucy Papworth Handicap Hurdle.
Trainer Henry Oliver is making a habit of saddling well-backed winners and this 9-4 chance was no different under James Davies.
Donald McCain's Superfection caused a 40-1 shock in the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle under Will Kennedy, while the Dai Williams-trained Ballyadeen (5-2) ran on well to land the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Dark Lover (4-9 favourite) took the concluding hunter chase for Jamie Snowden and Page Fuller.