Kelami comes home in front (Getty Images).

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Kelami's victory in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase was a timely boost for stable companion Baracouda's bid for a third stayers' crown at the meeting on Thursday.

Francois Doumen's horses are clearly in good heart, as Kelami proved when making the most of the 24lb he received from Keen Leader to get the better of Jonjo O'Neill's charge by a length and a quarter.

Robert Thornton kept Kelami to the outside, and after Keen Leader went on with Irish Hussar, the French challenger moved up to press the leaders after the penultimate fence.

He soon hit the front and a good jump at the last carried him clear, but he began to flag up the hill as Keen Leader rallied.

The post arrived in time for Kelami (8-1), with the top-weight a gallant runner-up at 28-1 and Irish Hussar another two lengths back in third.

"The yard is in good form and the horses are well and last week I won the Group Three at Saint-Cloud, so even the Flat horses are well," Doumen said.

Kelami is entered in the John Smith's Grand National but Doumen said: "He's too low down in the National, so it's a lost cause. But a winner at Cheltenham - who can complain?"

Thornton added: "These French horses are brilliant to ride. They do everything themselves, you don't have to help them at all.

"He was topping slightly but if one had come to him I think he would have picked up again."

O'Neill was delighted with Keen Leader's effort on his first start for 121 days.

He said: "He ran a blinder, jumped well and took the Cheltenham hoodoo off himself.

"He ran right to the line, but we are not making any excuses - he was beaten by a better handicapped horse on the day.

"He is in the English, Irish and Scottish Nationals, the Whitbread (now Betfred) and at Uttoxeter on Saturday, so we will just have to see, and hope he comes back all right.

"I have always thought of him as a Gold Cup horse and nothing has changed my mind.

"Maybe he will come back for the Gold Cup next year, so we don't want to overdo it with him."

Keen Leader's jockey Barry Geraghty was suspended for two days (March 26 and 27) for using his whip with excessive force.