Winning trainer Tom George said: “He really has to have this soft ground and the rain has certainly helped. They went a nice brisk pace that also suited him better.

“He’s a decent horse when he gets his conditions and was sent to me a couple of years ago by his owner Mike George – who is no relation – after he finished second behind Galileo, who I also train, at Kempton.”

George admitted he was well prepared for Turtle Soup to score in exemplary fashion and added: “I’ve entered him at Kempton and Wincanton over Christmas and as long as he’s all right after this he will run at one of those courses.”

Alan King, out of luck when Mughas could finish only third behind Turtle Soup, quickly regained the winning thread when D’Argent followed up his recent course victory with success in the stanjamesuk.com Novices’ Chase.

Robert Thornton sent the grey to the front at the fourth fence and they maintained the momentum to come home 13 lengths in front of Bee An Bee, who finished well clear of the remainder.

King said: “He’s a lovely horse and from day one he’s really enjoyed jumping fences as he simply sees one and it’s a case of attack!

“He’s not entered up over Christmas and New Year so we’ll see where we go with him afterwards.”

King and Thornton went on to complete a double when Emanic, bought from top French trainer Guillaume Macaire, made an impressive winning debut in the concluding Stan James Online Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

In-form jockey Andrew Thornton notched his 72nd winner of the season when Spring Grove jumped well before taking the stanjamescasino.co.uk Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles for trainer Robert Alner.

The gelding, who has never won beyond 18 furlongs, was always handily placed before going to the front at the second-last fence and drawing five lengths clear of Prominent Profile.

Thornton said: “I actually think the extra distance helped him as he seemed to have more time to find his stride, and in the end has done it nicely.”

Jonjo O’Neill found himself in the winner’s circle following the success of Toon Trooper, who came with a well-timed run for Tom Siddall to land the Sol Construction Novices’ Hurdle.

O’Neill said: “He’s been running very disappointingly of late and I told Tom to drop him right out and come with a run to see if that works. He seems to have enjoyed himself ridden that way and it looks like that is what he wants.”

Sandywell George ended a long barren spell for Cheltenham trainer Liam Grassick with victory under Tom Malone in the Ron & Iris Gascoigne 50th Wedding Anniversary Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Grassick said: “That’s a welcome one as it’s been 18 months to two years since the last one.

“I always thought he wanted a bit of cut in the ground so obviously the rain this morning has helped, and I think he could be quite good over fences when we try him in the New Year.”

There was a shock 30 minutes later when Just Superb landed a 100-1 surprise victory in the Oak Tree Mitsubishi Handicap Hurdle after jumping to the front at the second flight and making the remainder of the running for amateur Tom Greenway.

Winning trainer Peter Pritchard admitted the result was as much a shock to him as everybody else and said: “He’s always worked like a nice horse at home, but had a lot of muscle trouble last year. He seems to be over that now.”