Sanctuaire returned to winning ways with an excellent round of jumping in the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.
Having been put well in his place by Sprinter Sacre in the Tingle Creek, the Paul Nicholls-trained Sanctuaire was ridden with a bit more restraint in front by Ruby Walsh on this occasion. He was even headed turning into the straight by Wishfull Thinking and looked to be treading water.
Wishfull Thinking soon began to stop in front, however, and with Sanctuaire deciding to put his best foot forward, he regained the lead and powered clear for a 13-length win as the 11-8 favourite from Kumbeshwar.
Nicholls said: "He started to pull himself up on the back straight and I thought that was it, but when the others had gone past him he took off. He is quirky and silly, but you can ride him accordingly. If we can ride him with more restraint he could be interesting.
"We are going to have to take on Sprinter Sacre at Cheltenham, so I probably won't take him to Ascot first, we could maybe go to the Game Spirit, Cheltenham and then Sandown at the end of the season."
Nicholls already has a leading Triumph Hurdle contender in Far West, but he can be joined by Irish Saint after he skipped 18 lengths clear in the William Hill - iPad App Now Available Juvenile Hurdle. Sent off the 10-11 favourite after taking his debut in France, Irish Saint is 14-1 across the board for the Festival itself.
"He's a horse I want to look after as we view him as a chaser but he deserves a chance to go for something better now. I suppose he could come out again at the end of January at either Cheltenham or Haydock," said Nicholls.
19 June 2013
Guest has excellent chanceBrittain sweet on Rizeena
Team O'Brien aim for perfect Ten
Chigun aiming for Cambridge glory
Camelot bids for redemption
O'Neill ace proves too sharp
Ballydoyle in command in Coventry
Dawn delivers in thriller
Sole powers to sprint glory
O'Brien sounds War cry
18 June 2013
Stevens is king of the CastleAl Thani snaps up Sandiva
Minute's silence remembers Cecil
Duntle on Cambridge duty
Alive and Just in Ribblesdale mix
Passage heads Gold field
Deegan considers Soprano options
Toro out for Palace glory
Cecil's words not lost on Ponsonby
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Hawkwood supplemented for Hardwicke
Flotilla To Drop Back In Trip
Cecil's Chigun in Cambridge action
Al Kazeem and Camelot clash again
De Kock hoping to make history
War ready for Royal Ascot battle
Kingdom set to reign over Ascot
17 June 2013
Magician set for Palace showdownCat clings on for Carroll
Three more winners for Lady Cecil
Monaghan delivers on Midnight
Treve in stunning Diane win
Sapphire target for Trees
Beckett mulls Secret options
Nicholls has broken wrist
16 June 2013
Songbird aiming to fly highMovie has Newmarket on radar
Fahey juveniles primed for action
Stubbs leads O'Brien Coventry team
Salsify on summer break
Kempton target for Benbulben
Top trio head Palace runners
Shea Shea shoots for Stand glory
Animal heads Queen Anne field
Saint-Cloud aim for Dunaden
Magician to be declared for Palace
Soul all heart in York sprint
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Sam too sharp for rivals
Hughes makes it pay with Knight
Balding on mark with double
Morawij in a hurry in Scurry
Bartley is queen for a day
Big guns to clash in Coronation