Despite a wide margin win, the seven-year-old failed to convince many that he will be ready to win either of the Grade 1s he is entered for at the Festival, namely the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (3m; formerly the RSA) or the Cheltenham Turners Novices’ Chase over half a mile shorter.
Taking on just three opponents in Exeter’s Virgin Bet Novices’ Chase on February 2, his only potential threat entering the race was the Paul Nicholls-trained Flash Collonges.
However, he had him in trouble before the fourth last and was out and clear up the home straight. A very awkward looking jump two out drew a gasp or two from the crowd, before he got safely over the last for an 11-length success.
Just like on his chasing debut at Leicester, Dusart appeared to jump better when Nico de Boinville was positive on him but there was still the odd awkward clearance, with the gelding jumping left at several fences.
Nevertheless, he still had little trouble in beating Paul Nicholls' Flash Collonges, rated 138 in his own right, by an eased down 11 lengths.
The general response from the bookmakers was to leave him unchanged at around 25-1 for both the Turners Novices' Chase over two and a half miles and the Brown Advisory over three miles at the Cheltenham Festival.
Henderson said: "Nico said he was great when he had some company but when he got lonely, he did start going violently left-handed.
"What we've got to remember is that was just the fourth race of his life and we are just getting experience into him. He is still so green but he jumped very well, he stays well and he gallops well - but he can't be doing that, not on a right-handed course anyway.
"I'd love to get another run into him somewhere left-handed, but we'll have to see.
"We could have done with Rebecca's (Curtis) horse (Pats Fancy) running today. When he was pulled out this morning we thought it would make life easier but actually it made it more difficult."
