Exciting French recruit Bo Zenith put a disappointing British debut behind him with a clear-cut victory in the Betfred Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock.
The Zarak gelding was a winner at Auteuil on his racecourse introduction last spring and the form could hardly have worked out better, with the runner-up Blood Destiny now a leading contender for the Triumph Hurdle for Willie Mullins and the third-placed David Du Berlais since winning in Listed company.
On the strength of that performance Bo Zenith was a 4-11 favourite on his first start for Gary Moore at Sandown last month, but odds-on backers had their fingers burnt as he trailed home a well beaten third of four runners.
Despite that disappointment, the four-year-old once again headed the market on Merseyside at 9-4 as he aimed to provide Moore and owner Olly Harris with back-to-back Victor Ludorum victories following the success of Porticello 12 months ago.
And while he was under pressure early in the straight, Bo Zenith responded to Tom Cannon's urgings to grab the lead and galloped clear on the run-in to score by three and a half lengths.
Porticello went on to finish sixth in the Triumph Hurdle following last year's win and Betfair cut Bo Zenith to 16-1 from 33-1 for the juvenile championship.
Moore said: "He was so disappointing at Sandown. I thought I'd found the worst race I could possibly have found and I couldn't believe he got beat.
"I'd hate to think he wasn't fit enough. Maybe he just hadn't quite come to himself and maybe the heavy ground at Sandown didn't suit him as much as I thought it would.
"I've only listened to the race today on the radio and I haven't spoken to Tom (Cannon) yet, so I wouldn't want to comment on his performance too much, but it's nice he's gone and won.
"I'll speak to the owners and make a plan from there."
Johnson's Blue (17-2) notched his seventh win in the past 12 months in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.
Mark Walford's charge was rated just 87 when his winning spree began at Hexham in March and had to compete from a more lofty perch of 123 at Haydock.
But the six-year-old proved the handicapper has not caught up with him just yet with a tenacious display from the front end, seeing off 4-1 favourite The Changing Man by a length and a half.
"He's a real trier, he's genuine and he jumps. My plan wasn't really to make the running today, but he was jumping and going forward and enjoying it, so I didn't want to disappoint him," said winning jockey Jamie Hamilton.
"The last furlong and a half it felt like the line was never coming, but he really stuck it out."
Nigel Twiston-Davies and Jordan Nailor combined to win the Betfred Play Fred's 5 Million Handicap Chase, with 9-2 shot Super Six drawing 15 lengths clear of his rivals.
Nailor, partnering his first winner since riding out his claim, said: "I'm very grateful that Nigel is still giving me support and nice horses to ride. We'll keep trying to go forward.
"We settled lovely and he jumped fantastic – I can't fault him at all."
Famous Clermont (4-5 favourite) could be Cheltenham bound following an easy 18-length verdict in the Betfred Steve Hope Walrus Open Hunters' Chase for trainer Chris Barber and jockey Will Biddick.
Barber said: "That was impressive. The engine is there and now we're sort of unlocking where we want to go.
"Potentially Cheltenham, we will have to have a chat with the team but Cheltenham is on the cards.
"Will is very keen to try to get him to Aintree maybe, but options are open and after a performance like that, you need to take stock. He's a proper horse and I'm lucky to have him."
