Ma Du Fou repaid the faith shown in him by trainer Warren Greatrex by continuing his rapid rise through the ranks with victory in the 32Red Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon.
While an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival is likely to be put on hold until next year, the Upper Lambourn handler's assertion that he is a horse for the future was justified in perfect fashion in the Listed contest.
Disputing the lead in the extended two-mile-three-furlong affair, the six-year-old found plenty when called upon for a maximum effort by Gavin Sheehan to defeat the strong-travelling North Hill Harvey by two lengths and complete a hat-trick this campaign.
Greatrex said: "He is a horse that I've always held in high regard. Last year was a write-off and he was never the horse we thought he was. I've just given him plenty of time. This season he has won two non-events and this was his next step up and he has done it pretty well.
"I think Cheltenham may be a year too soon for him. I know it's a cliché, but he is a horse for the future and chasing will be his game. He has improved so much the last 18 months I don't know whether Cheltenham might just take the edge off him."
Baoulet Delaroque formed the middle leg of an across-the-card treble for champion trainer Paul Nicholls after running out the winner of the 32Red.com Handicap Hurdle, following up recent wins at Doncaster and Wincanton.
Delivered late by Sam Twiston-Davies, the 15-8 favourite bravely defied long-time leader Value At Risk by two lengths to add to Nicholls' victories with Rock On Oscar and Nexius at Doncaster.
Tom Jonason, assistant trainer, said: "That's his third run in the space of a few weeks and Paul said in the event of this happening he will probably hold entries in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe, but that it's quite likely he might go to Aintree as he has had a tough few weeks."
Denis O'Regan was the rider to side with in the final two races, taking both divisions of the 32Red British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat.
My Khaleesi (2-1 favourite) initiated the double when going one better than on her debut at Warwick, getting the better of debutant Storm Patrol by two lengths to set up a potential trip to the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April.
The victory also completed an across-the-card treble for winning trainer Alan King, who was on target at Doncaster with Willoughby Hedge and Winter Escape.
Dan Horsford, assistant trainer, said: "She travelled well all the way round and Denis (O'Regan) said that the danger would be Suzy Smith's horse (Storm Patrol), so he tracked her into the race. She has got a good attitude and picked up well.
"Denis mentioned that the Aintree mares' bumper might be for her as she has got the class for that, but that's for Alan to decide."
After finishing seventh in a Listed contest at the track last time out, Beyond Measure (5-1) took full advantage of an ease in grade to complete O'Regan's brace when running out a clear-cut winner of the second division.
Winning trainer Don Cantillon said: "That was grand. She has been flying at home since her last run. I bred her myself and she is a half-sister to As I Am. Like all my horses, though, she is for sale."
The Mick Easterby-trained Ganbei (11-2) added to his wins in the point-to-point sphere with a first success under rules in the 32Red Casino Handicap Hurdle, while Fight Commander (10-1) left behind his chasing debut to take the 32Red On The App Store Chase for Oliver Sherwood.
Albatros De Guye (22-1) gave trainer Anna Newton-Smith a surprise success despite being 4lb wrong at the weights in the 32Red £10 Free Handicap Chase.