Chris Gordon's Aucunrisque made most of the running to see off the well-fancied Shallwehaveonemore in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton.
The 3/1 second-favourite jumped fluently on his way to a one-length verdict over the 6/4 market leader, representing the Goshen connections.
Turning for home it looked like Shallwehaveonemore might have the winner's measure, but Aucunrisque found plenty for pressure out in front under Tom Cannon.
Shallwehaveonemore battled well and saw off Galore Desassences for second.
However, a couple of novicey jumping errors at the final two flights cost the market leader valuable momentum, handing the initiative to Aucunrisque, who proved incredibly game in responding to Cannon’s urgings.
He galloped on strongly after the last to hold the challenge of Shallwehaveonemore by a length, with 40/1 shot Galore Desassences finishing a further length and three-quarters adrift.
Aucunrisque was completing a hat-trick of victories for his trainer and Unibet chopped his price to 10/1 from 20s for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
“It is so lovely. Brilliant. I am very happy. He has done it the hard way – he has gone up there in front and is a very hardy horse. He has just kept on picking up,” said Gordon.
“Sure, we could have gone for a tougher handicap, but he is going to be in tough handicaps all his life probably. We just thought, as a novice, he is tough and that is part of it.
“He’s won a pretty good little handicap hurdle before and a lot of novices haven’t done that and I thought he was a real warrior there today and stuck his head out all the way to the line.
“We just thought we’d keep it simple. I’m a simple persona, so we try to keep the horses’ tactics nice and simple, bowl along nice and handy and just make use of a decent gallop.
“I did have the Imperial Cup in mind instead of coming here, but while I love Sandown, when it rains, I would go there with no race to go to, I’m 90 per cent sure.
“So, he is in the County Hurdle, but I think maybe he will go to Aintree. We’ll see. I can’t see any reason why he won’t go for the Grade One, but I haven’t had a drink in February and my judgement is not great!
“I don’t think this boy is big enough to jump a fence, so hurdling will be his game.”
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Cannon fires 57.5/1 Kempton treble
Gordon and Cannon later doubled up with bottom weight Storm Dennis (7/2 favourite) in the Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Handicap Hurdle.
The winning trainer said: “It was a really good afternoon – a proper red-letter day.
“It is owner Dan Dennis’ birthday on Monday, so we are off to London for a bit of a night. I’ve been off the booze in February, which is a little bit boring!
“I might have a little drink on Monday.
“It was completely gutsy from Storm Dennis. It was really scrappy. All he was doing was staying on at the end and he will get a bit further. Tom has schooled him over fences and he is a horse to look forward to next season.”
Having clocked up a treble on the corresponding card in 2020, the 26-year-old Cannon repeated the feat aboard Onewayortother (9/4) for trainer Toby Lawes in the closing Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Open NH Flat Race.
The son of Great Pretender was backed right down from a morning show of 10/1 and landed the gamble in style, winning by an impressive five lengths from favourite Itso Fury.
The winner carried the famous colours of Andrew Wates, carried to victory in the 1996 Grand National by Rough Quest.
Cannon said: “I was a bit down in the dumps after falling in the first but it’s ended up being a good day and I’ve won on three nice horses.
“On paper they had good chances but you often go racing and go home with nothing but we’ve had a bit of luck today.
“I had a treble on this card two years ago. I will have to start ringing the day in the calendar!”
As for Onewayortother a trip to Aintree in April for the Grade Two Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race has not been totally ruled out by the Beare Green handler.
Lawes added: “He has got a great mind and he is from a great family. He is an absolutely stunning horse.
“He is very straightforward and very laid back and had done everything nicely at home. It was fairly clear he was going to come to hand earlier than some store horses.
“We were thinking of running him around Christmas/New Year time in the four year old bumper at Cheltenham but he had to wait and be patient.
“I was expecting him to be pretty green today as he has never come off the bridle at home.
“He has won a Kempton bumper nicely on his first start so you have to think about these things. We will think about it (Aintree). We will see how he comes out of the race and goes forward before we make any big decisions but he is a smart horse.”