NATIVE River further enhanced his claims for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup when making all the running to beat two smart rivals in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.
Winner of the Hennessy and Welsh National in his last two starts, Native River showed he was adaptable in such a small field.
There was a late change when Aidan Coleman came in for the ride on Native River after Richard Johnson stood himself down as he was feeling unwell.
Coleman was riding Native River for the first time, but it made no difference to the result as the Colin Tizzard-trained seven-year-old set a steady pace.
The plan was to save some energy for the finish and so it proved as Native River (11-10) galloped away from 14-1 outsider Le Mercurey after the last.
Bristol De Mai, sent off the 10-11 favourite, was a slightly disappointing last of the three, having never got in a challenging position.
Tizzard told ITV Racing: "I only think he asked him coming down to the second last. He just nursed him along. It showed he was a bit classier.
"His last two races he went a few lengths clear four out and just held on. We wanted to ride him a little differently and have that finishing spurt at the end and it's worked brilliantly. He's gone away at the line.
"Aidan's not a bad sub."
Of his three Gold Cup contenders - Native River, Thistlecrack and Cue Card - Tizzard said: "They are all lovely horses. I'm just so proud to have them in our yard.
"A three-horse race today I thought we might get outmanoeuvred, but no, he's got a bit more class and is just a thorough stayer and he's got a bit of pace as well."
Coleman said: "I had a quick chat with Richard Johnson just before the race and he told me what his plan was and what he thought he'd do. I just followed that to the letter.
"I thought looking at the horse he could have gone quicker, but Dickie's plan was absolutely perfect. It was to get him some company. Getting outmanoeuvred was never going to happen.
"He's a fantastic jumper and has a lot of class as well.
"He's just the perfect racehorse and (it was) very nice to have a sit on him and I wish them all the best for the future."
Bookmakers Paddy Power cut Native River to 4-1 from 9-2 for the Gold Cup.
Tizzard added: "It's just nice that Richard Johnson and Aidan Coleman were talking beforehand how to ride him.
"Aidan Coleman is a classy jockey. He has not had these colours on a for a few years since he decked Hey Big Spender in the Hennessy.
"I walked out with Dickie and he said he would love to ride him but just felt he couldn't do the horse justice. He had this flu and he felt terrible.
"It was a brilliant performance. He is not just an out and out stayer, he has got a bit of pace about him.
"We've ridden him to outstay people and we don't have to go on over five out. It is lovely to see he has got that other gear now.
"When it is cat and mouse, you think 'is that gear there at the end of the race' and there it is."
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