Lump Sum regained the winning thread when adding the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle to his CV at Kempton.
Runner-up to Supreme Novices' Hurdle bound Jeriko Du Reponet at Doncaster last month, the Sam Thomas-trained five-year-old returned to the winners' enclosure with an authoritative success over old rival Fiercely Proud.
Sam Twiston-Davies was happy to bide his time towards the rear of the field for much of the two-mile contest, with Harry Cobden and Panjari ensuring a decent gallop throughout for the sextet.
Lump Sum looked to have work to do turning for home as Fiercely Proud travelled kindly approaching the second last, but all the while Sam Twiston-Davies was beginning to get a sweet tune out of his mount, closing on the in-form Ben Pauling runner with every stride.
The pair took up proceedings on the approach to the final flight and success never looked in doubt from there on in for the 13/8 favourite, with the winning margin eventually a commanding four and a half lengths.
Thomas said: "I'm delighted. We're not having as many runners as we maybe have done in the last season or two and as a trainer I don't have as much confidence as I should do going into races like that – I was nervous beforehand.
"I was delighted to see the horse transfer that Doncaster form, but he's a smashing horse and learning all the time.
Although Lump Sun doesn't hold any Grade 1 entries at Prestbury Park next month, the son of Authorized does have the option of the County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle should owner Dai Walters opt to head that way.
"We left him out of the novices (at Cheltenham) because of how competitive it is," continued Thomas.
"He's in the handicaps and he could still be well handicapped, but that is a decision for Mr Walters and myself to have a chat about in the next week or two.
"Absolutely Aintree could be an option, but there is never any pressure from Mr Walters with any of the young horses and we've got a young horse to look forward to for many seasons to come.
"He's a smashing hurdler for now and we'll enjoy today before we think about the future. He's up there with Good Risk At All who is a real mudlark and I just think he could keep going the way he is. He's such a nice, straightforward one to train at home and is definitely one of the best ones yet. He's done everything right.
"Our dream would be to try to win the Welsh Champion Hurdle and I know Mr Walters is desperate to win that, so that will be our first target next season."
