Donald McCain is hopeful Subtle Grey can go on to bigger and better things after securing his second victory of the winter at Carlisle.
It has been a difficult season so for the Cholmondeley trainer, with owners Paul and Clare Rooney removing around 50 horses from his care.
However, there have been shoots of recovery in recent weeks for the Grand National-winning handler and Subtle Grey became the yard's third winner in the space of six days when showing admirable resolution to claim the Lloyds Lawn And Leisure Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
A previous winner in Cumbria over both hurdles and fences, Will Kennedy's mount was the 4-5 favourite having run well to fill the runner-up spot at Chepstow a month ago.
Kilbree Chief kept the market leader honest, but Subtle Grey knuckled down to see him off by half a length, with the only other runner Courtown Oscar not far away in third.
McCain said: "He's a grand horse. He's not the quickest, but touch wood he jumps and he gallops and that's the kind of horse you're in the job for.
"Proper winter ground suits him well and you'd hope there's a lot to look forward to with him.
"We won't rush as he's had a hard race over three miles in heavy ground, but hopefully there'll be a nice race for him somewhere in the spring.
"We have entered him at Cheltenham (National Hunt Chase), but it's unlikely he'll go there as he's unlikely to get his ground."
Former McCain inmate Jonny Eager carried the Rooney silks to an emphatic victory in the Lloyd Land Rover Novices' Handicap Chase.
Now with Scottish trainer Alistair Whillans, the 7-2 joint-favourite made most of the running and galloped on relentlessly for a 20-length verdict over The Bishop.
"We were a bit worried about the ground, but he handled it well and we're over the moon with him," said Whillans.
"He didn't really respect his hurdles, but he ran well at Wetherby and we were hopeful with a clear round he'd be there or thereabouts. He did it well and there might be better again on better ground."
The Micky Hammond-trained Dakota Grey was a good winner of the Racing To School Novices' Hurdle.
Having been placed over longer distances on his last couple of starts, the 15-8 chance appeared to relish a drop back to a shade over two miles in the hands of Joe Colliver.
Hammond said: "He ran really well at Wetherby and then didn't get the trip in heavy ground at Kelso.
"He's bred to get two and a half (miles), but maybe he just isn't strong enough for it at the moment, especially in the winter ground, and he's won well coming back to a shorter trip today.
"We'll find something similar in a few weeks and look to step him up next season. He's a horse to follow."
Trainer Tim Easterby and jockey Brian Hughes combined to land the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle with Tara The Tiger (6-1), before Hughes went on to complete a double aboard Jimmy Moffatt's 7-4 favourite Morning Royalty in the Lloyds BMW Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
The Lloyd Motor Group Handicap Hurdle brought proceedings to a close, with victory going to 14-1 shot Pistol.