Saddlers Encore (5-1) demonstrated his ability remains intact after building on his first start in 20 months with a resolute victory in the Betfred Mobile Heroes Handicap Hurdle at Sandown.
In a race in which few finished, the Philip Hobbs-trained runner showed plenty of courage to land a slow-motion finish to the Grade Three prize.
Hitting the front between the final two obstacles, the eight-year-old, who had spent time on the sidelines with a leg injury, repelled the late charge of Join The Clan by three-quarters of a length.
Winning rider Richard Johnson said: "He is a horse that had a little injury and missed all of last season. It's great when they come back and it looks like he has improved from his novice hurdle days.
"We ran him on Boxing Day and the idea was to have a few runs over hurdles and then go chasing next year.
"He is really likeable and very straightforward. He wants to please you and that is what you need in these conditions."
Akavit moved a step closer to making an appearance at next month's Cheltenham Festival after running his rivals into the ground in the Betfred "Home of Goals Galore" Juvenile Hurdle.
Having opened his account over hurdles at Wetherby last time out, the four-year-old followed it up with a game front-running success in the two-mile prize under David Bass.
Although Fingertips ranged up as a serious threat at two out the Ed de Giles-trained 10-1 shot seemed to have the measure of David Pipe's runner, who departed at the last leaving the multiple Flat winner to bound up the hill and score by eight lengths from Seven Kingdoms.
De Giles said: "It was an agonising decision whether to go to Musselburgh for the better ground or come here.
"He is a diamond horse and is a lovely character. His jumping last time was good, but his approach was terrible - he was very good today and was much more professional.
"I have given him a tentative entry in the Triumph, but we might be slightly tilting at windmills. I would think the Fred Winter would be more like his option."
Arthur's Oak atoned for his near-miss at the Esher track last month with a tenacious success in the Betfred "Treble Odds On Lucky 15's" Handicap Chase.
Sent straight into the lead of the extended one-mile-seven-furlong contest the Venetia Williams-trained runner looked booked for second again as bottom weight Ulck Du Lin, bidding to give trainer Paul Nicholls a quickfire double, surged into a narrow lead over the last.
Not one for relenting the 6-4 favourite, who finished second behind the reopposing Bold Henry last time out, fought back to get up and score by a nose.
Williams said: "Aidan Coleman said that he has never jumped the three Railway fences so well.
"He is showing more speed than we thought he had, that's why we've ended up making the running all the time as essentially we think he is a stayer.
"He is a star and Jenny (Burt, owner) and her family bred him which always makes it much more rewarding."