Ben Pauling saw his Cheltenham Festival team take further shape after Local Show and A Hare Breath provided the trainer with a quickfire double at Kempton.
With the unbeaten Barters Hill set to spearhead the handler's team in March, stable companion Local Show firstly advanced his own Festival claims after getting the better of a pulsating finish to the racinguk.com/anywhere Novices' Chase.
After winning on his debut for the yard at Newbury, the eight-year-old followed it up in the three-mile contest with a head success over Onenightinvienna under Nico de Boinville.
Pauling said of the 11-4 chance: "We thought he was a fast-improving horse but taking on Onenightinvienna off level weights was tough.
"He got an inspired ride from Nico de Boinville. He jumped brilliantly and with his tendency to jump right we thought coming here would suit.
"He will get entries in the four-miler (National Hunt Chase) and the RSA. We will keep options open."
A Hare Breath (4-9 favourite) completed De Boinville and Pauling's brace with an eased-down, 10-length victory in the racinguk.com/freetrial Novices' Hurdle.
Pauling said: "He shouldn't be hit by the handicapper and I'd be bit disappointed if he put him up too much.
"I would say it would be the County Hurdle, but he might go for the Supreme if it cut up and a lot of people wanted to avoid Min.
"It's a huge relief to see two Cheltenham prospects come back safe and sound."
The chances of last year's Champion Bumper third Wait For Me (1-5 favourite) making an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival are far from certain after the Philip Hobbs-trained six-year-old made hard work of taking the opening division of the Bellshill Wins All #TheFinalFurlong Novices' Hurdle.
Jockey Richard Johnson said: "He has been very slow to get to grips with it all. In behind he jumped really well but he was travelling so well he took me to the front.
"Basically he is a baby and he doesn't know what to do when he gets there.
"The ground was not ideal for him but he has got to get the practice in.
"Whether he goes to Cheltenham or Aintree, only time will tell. He is a very exciting horse for the future and is not the finished article yet."
Oliver Sherwood can now look to more lucrative targets for Legend Lady (5-2) following her success in the second division.
Having undergone an operation for a trapped epiglottis since she flopped on her hurdling debut at Fakenham, the five-year-old reaped the rewards in the two-mile affair with a length success over even-money favourite Authorized Too.
Sherwood said: " She has always been a nice mare but she didn't jump at Fakenham and we've had to take time with her.
"Once they've won a race you want to get a Listed place.
"The mares' final at Newbury is the obvious one but she might be a bit better than that - she'll get further."
Roc D'Apsis (14-1) outperformed part-owner David Rea's pre-race hopes when staying on tenaciously in the Interactive Handicap Chase.
Rea said of the Tom George-trained runner: "That was a good win. I said I'd be pleased if we got in the first four.
"The better ground suited him down to the ground.
"He had a nice break since his last run and I think it showed."
The Seamus Mullins-trained Flugzeug (33-1) registered his first success away from Plumpton in the Watch RacingUK With Free Trial Now Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, while Debdebdeb (2-1 favourite) made her first start for Dan Skelton a successful one in the Racing UK 3 Devices 1 Price Handicap Hurdle.