Henry Daly's hailed "proper horse: Hillcrest as his giant galloped his rivals into the ground in the Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock.
One of the tallest horses in training at around 18 hands, Hillcrest's odds for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham next month were halved in value.
A somewhat novicey jumper at times, Hillcrest unseated Richard Patrick at Cheltenham last time out, losing his unbeaten record over hurdles in the process and so Shropshire trainer Daly was looking for a confidence booster.
Sent off the even-money favourite, Hillcrest made the early running but he had Venetia Williams' Green Book, his main market rival, for company.
The pair pulled 10 lengths clear at one stage but that took too much out of Green Book who laboured comiing round the home turn, leaving Nicky Richards' Crystal Glory as the sole danger.
Yet Hillcrest showed his utter power by surging to a an eight lengths victory.
Daly said: "Having watched that, if he goes to Cheltenham it will be the Albert Bartlett. That's if he goes, we could wait for Aintree, he won't do both.
"I don't actually think he's had a particularly hard slog today, he's the only one all day who has pulled away and run through the line.
"They went a really good gallop, I was watching the times on the screen and wincing. He didn't jump great but Richard said he was more interested in watching the other horse.
"There's no getting away from it, he's a proper horse. I've said all along at this stage of his career he's the best I've had.
"He doesn't show it at home, he just gallops, like he does on the racecourse, but he can clearly gallop quite fast!"
READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2022 guide: When is it, times, big races, top horses, trainers, jockeys and more.