Tom Lacey's Blow Your Wad made it a perfect three out of three at Kempton when bouncing back to his best in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase.
A winner over this afternoon's course and distance on Boxing Day, Tom Lacey's charge seemingly wasn't firing on all cylinders when a well-beaten sixth behind Grade 1 bound Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham last month.
However, a combination of the return to the Sunbury-on-Thames venue and the application of cheekpieces would for the oracle for Tom Lacey's improving six-year-old, who having looked likely to run out a facile winner approaching the second last, had to dig deep to fend off a late challenge from Paul Nicholls' Tahmuras.
Tahmuras rallied well to make things interesting for those who backed the well-supported 13/8 market leader but ultimately could only close the gap to three-quarters of a length.
"We have run him in Grade 1 before over hurdles, but he was a five-year-old taking on six-year-olds, which was probably a bit harsh on him to be fair," said Sheppard.
"We've always liked him, and I think he probably has to stay right-handed now because he's won three times around here. I would say here, and Sandown would be where he goes I imagine.
"He's probably still 10lb off the top races, but with another summer he might improve again because he's only six and there's still plenty of room for improvement."
