Bangalore has his sights set on one of the Flat season's most historic races after underlining his well-being at Uttoxeter today.
The Tote Chester Cup is the target for the colt who will first try to round off his jumping campaign in style at Chepstow next month.
Bangalore made it two wins from four outings over timber when justifying odds of 4-7 in the Worthington Creamflow Novices' Hurdle.
Some of his supporters might have been worried beforehand as Bangalore moved poorly on the way to the start.
But there was nothing much to worry about during the race as he travelled sweetly throughout.
Striding away in the home straight, he scored by 12 lengths from Bardon Hill Boy and would have won by considerably further had Joe Tizzard not eased down.
Bangalore was winning as the formbook suggested he would, having finished 11th, beaten just over 14 lengths, in the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle.
But his trainer Amanda Perrett is convinced the handicapper has overrated her charge on the evidence of the Cheltenham contest.
"He's been given a rating of 127 but jumping the second last he only had two behind him. He just ran on through beaten horses," she said.
"He did show a scratchy action on the way to the start here but he's always like that and would probably be better on softer ground.
"We'll probably give him just the one more race over hurdles before returning him to the Flat."
Bill Clay ended a long spell in the doldrums when Althrey Ruler sprang a surprise in the Racecourse Video Services Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
The trainer was especially pleased for Lee Vickers, 22, who was registering the first winner of his career.
"Lee came to me from Nicky Henderson six months. He's the best work rider in my yard and deserves some winners - he's a good lad," he said.
"I've waited a long time for this - unfortunately a lot of my horses have a touch of the slows."
Richard Johnson's strength in a finish saw Toomaline edge out Berlin Blue by a neck in the Angus Mackinnon of Uttoxeter Handicap Hurdle.
Toomaline was reaping the benefit of the tender loving care of his lass Dawn Letherby.
"He goes out on his own with Dawn and she takes him up a much steeper field. It seems to suit him well," said trainer Philip Hobbs.
Toomaline will race again this season only if Hobbs can find some good or softer ground for him.
Murray's Million made amends for a below-par effort on his last outing when pipping the favourite Peccadillo by a short-head in the Bank One National Hunt Credit Card Novices' Handicap Chase.
Trainer Julian Smith is convinced the eight-year-old was feeling the exertions of his previous race when well-behind at Hereford last time.
The Brookshaw family celebrated success when Pennyahei outstayed Executive King in the Westbury Homes Handicap Chase.
The winner is trained by Steve Brookshaw, bred by his wife Zena and owned by daughter Heidi.
Tony McCoy and Martin Pipe put another on the scoreboard when Minnesota made all in the Peter J Douglas Engineering Novices' Selling Hurdle.
