Paisley Park (8/1) was an emphatic winner of the JLT Long Walk Hurdle success at Ascot for Aidan Coleman and Emma Lavelle.
The winner gave both trainer and jockey their first Grade 1 horse racing results success and a Stayers Hurdle tilt at the Cheltenham Festival in March now looks likely for a horse who is continuing to improve.
Sam Spinner and Unowhatimeanharry, the last two winners of the Ascot contest, both fell in an eventful race but there was no doubting the winner on the day as the 6-year-old powered clear of West Approach to claim a famous victory.
Pre-race favourite Call Me Lord looked to be in a position to challenge but failed to see the trip out on his first start up at 3m.
All roads now lead to the Stayers' Hurdle for Paisley Park with the quotes of 12/1 for the big race at Cheltenham looking more than fair for a horse who remains unbeaten this term.
The long distance stayers division does look thin on the ground on both sides of the Irish Sea with no obvious superstar at the moment, but it was hard not to be impressed by Paisley Park who rightly should be considered as a genuine threat in the spring.
Elsewhere at Ascot, we saw an impressive win from the Ben Pauling trained Kildisart who won the 2m5f Graduation Chase in good style and he now looks set to step up in class for the Scilly Isles Novices Chase at Sandown on his next start in the new year.
