Joyeuse put a smile back on Nicky Henderson's face with an eight-length demolition job in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury.
An injury to star novice Sir Gino has given the six-time champion trainer a real headache with the looming up.
Forced to , Henderson is adamant the 8-13 Arkle favourite needs more experience.
But options at Kempton and Bangor give him just two weeks to ready his charge for a clash with Willie Mullins-trained ace Majborough in Gloucestershire.
Henderson was finding it tricky to decide on the best route before JP McManus-owned Joyeuse (9-2) scooted clear under Nico de Boinville in the day's big betting event.
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"It was just perfection," the training wizard said. "Everywhere you looked she was travelling and jumping.
“This race has changed name a few times and it is great for William Hill to come in for the sponsorship as it means a lot to everyone."
Henderson ruled out squeezing another run in with Joyeuse to qualify her for Cheltenham next month, with bookmakers offering odds of 8-1 for the County Hurdle.
But he added: "Sir Gino definitely wants to go to a racecourse. It’s sad he is not here and we have a bit of a headache now over where to go."
Djelo sent Venetia Williams soaring past the £1million prize money mark in the William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase.
In a race named after the much-missed 2008 Gold Cup hero, the well-backed 6-4 favourite made giant strides for Charlie Deutsch and ran out a comfortable winner.
"Once he set him alight, the turbo came in very quickly," said Williams, confirming her 14-1 chance for the Ryanair Chase will go straight to Prestbury Park.
At Warwick, 1-5 favourite L'Eau Du Sud warmed hearts with an emotionally charged victory in the colours of late part-owner John Hales.
Just over a week after Hales' death, the Dan Skelton trainee rubber-stamped his Arkle Chase claims in the Grade Two contest.
“It’s a pretty poignant success given what John meant to our family," local handler Skelton said. "That will put L'Eau Du Sud spot on for Cheltenham."
