Hopes that One Man's half-brother Steel Blade would prove to be a chip off the old block looked misplaced after he was comprehensively defeated on his jumping debut at Leicester today.
The grey trailed in third as Bloomfield Storm took the honours in the Dick Christian Novices' Chase.
Steel Blade was sent off the 15-8 favourite despite having been off the course since winning his only previous race, a bumper, at Uttoxeter in December 1998.
He jumped soundly in the main but by the second last was a beaten horse as Bloomfield Storm surged clear.
Staying on powerfully all the way to the line Bloomfield Storm was nine lengths clear of Bramblehill Duke with the same distance back to Steel Blade.
Ironically, the winning trainer Kim Bailey had Steel Blade in his care for his first race, but the grey was switched to Nicky Henderson when Bailey moved out of Lambourn.
"I didn't really expect this. I didn't think Bloomfield Storm was a Cheltenham horse and I haven't made an entry. He's a top-of-the-ground horse and maybe we can think about Aintree," said Bailey.
"Aiden Murphy bought the horse for me at the Doncaster Sales and when I saw the horse I wasn't particularly impressed - he looked lean and thin."
Bookmakers were flushed with success as Chicago Bear, with the unattractive form figures 'P00', obliged in the Brook Conditional Jockeys' Selling Handicap Hurdle.
The former Paul Cole-trained Flat runner had little to recommend him on jumping form and was friendless in the market at 25-1.
But his jockey Brian Reel stole a march on the opposition sending him 15 lengths clear in the home straight.
Chicago Bear was weary in the final stages but his rivals, led by Thatcham Island, were unable to catch him.
"They say there's a race for every horse and this is certainly the track for Brian - his only other winner Reggie Buck was here," said trainer John Mackie.
"The horse managed to win a claimer on the Flat under a typical Kieren Fallon ride but he's been very disappointing over hurdles."
Chicago Bear, sold for 50,000 guineas as a yearling, did not attract a bid at the auction.
Crisis teed up a 37½-1 double for promising young Irish amateur Paul Flynn when denying Tall Story in the Stonesby Novices' Hurdle. The victory improved the luck of owner Richard Perkins whose Carlito Brigante was fatally injured at the last Leicester meeting.
Trainer Paul Dalton had no doubts that Crisis would be suited by the step up to an extended two and a half miles.
"Everybody seemed worried about him staying but he's always struck me as a two-and-a-half-mile horse," said the trainer.
Flynn clinched his double as West Country raider Indian Run landed the Rabbit Handicap Chase.
The 11-year-old, trained by Rodney Baker in Devon, stretched away from the final fence to defeat Bayerd by seven lengths.
Brendan Powell is still searching for his first success since he returned last weekend from a long injury absence after the favourite Smart Squall flopped in the Croxton Park Novices' Hurdle.
It was disappointing ex-Flat racer Smooth Sailing that landed the spoils, staying on too well for Rose Hill.
With Gerry Enright's local track Fontwell staging racing, it was perhaps significant that the trainer sent Dutch Dyane to the Midlands.
Backers taking the hint profited as the 14-1 chance, ridden by Richard Johnson, came home nine lengths clear of Minella Storm in the Tote Exacta 1-2 Handicap Hurdle.
