Gitane Du Berlais and Daryl Jacob © Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins continued his big-race domination as Gitane Du Berlais made the journey from Ireland to claim the Grade 1 Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.
Straight to the front in the hands of Daryl Jacob, she bowled along willingly, jumping well in the process.
Champagne West sat in the rear for the early part of the journey but fell when taking closer order some way out, while Splash Of Ginge was never really fluent and eventually pulled up.
Favourite Irish Saint was left as the main threat and while Sam Twiston-Davies was at work on the Paul Nicholls-trained runner three out, a good jump at the second-last kept him in it.
However, Gitane Du Berlais (9-2) had plenty left and after safely negotiating the final fence she stayed on well up the Esher hill to take Grade One honours by eight lengths.
Jacob said: "She's good and she's quick over her fences. She's got her own way of doing it and she was very impressive.
"She's quick and gets from A to B.
"I think two and a half is the trip for her. She seems to stay well but I don't think she's short of pace, either. On better ground two and a half is a good trip for her."
Anthony Bromley, racing advisor to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "I thought we might get beaten today, but she is entered in the JLT and the RSA as well (as the Arkle). We'll talk to Mr Mullins when she gets back home and we'll see. The idea was to see if she's a Grade One horse for Cheltenham. But that was good, wasn't it.
"I thought we might be going for the novice handicap chase. Mr Mullins will put them in everything and you are never quite sure.
"We thought this was tilting a bit high. But she's lovely, isn't she?
She's a nightmare to place - she's not EBF-qualified so she can't run her in any mares' chases in Ireland.
"That's why I had to come up with a plan to come here. It was a bit of a jump to stick her in a Grade One on her second run over fences, but it was that or take on Vatour or Un De Sceaux from the same stable in Ireland.
"It was aiming a bit high - I thought this race was really hot."
Mullins was at Fairyhouse, where he said: "I'm delighted with her. She jumped great at Limerick over Christmas, so we decided to use her jumping.
"It worked around there where jumping is the key to winning. She was making half a length at every fence."
