Sporazene enjoyed an impressive debut over fences when winning a novice chase at Exeter.
Ridden by Ruby Walsh, the five-year-old made just two errors of any note and eased into the lead four fences from home, finally winning by 13 lengths.
Sporazene, sent off the 1-2 favourite for the 2m 1½f race, was already the ante-post market leader for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham next March.
The grey won the County Hurdle at last year's Festival.
Trainer Paul Nicholls was delighted with Sporazene's first outing over the bigger obstacles.
"I was very pleased with him. He made a couple of
novicey mistakes and took a bit of a swim in the water jump, but Ruby was very
happy with him," said the Somerset trainer.
"The most important thing is to get him home and make sure he is all right,
but the real target is the Arkle at the end of the season."
Stuart's Volvo Truck and Bus Beginners' Chase
Exeter, 2m 1½f
1 Sporazene (R Walsh) 1-2f
2 Madam Flora (J Tizzard) 20-1
3 Master Papa (C Llewellyn) 20-1
Eight ran. Dist: 13l, 10l
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MMIX
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