Suny Bay muscled his way to the summit of the staying chase rankings as he stamped his authority over five top-notch rivals at Haydock Park yesterday.
Bookmakers were carefully reconsidering prices for three of the season's biggest staying contests after the grey secured the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase for the second year running.
Suny Bay's convincing five-length defeat of Escartefigue prompted the layers to chop his price for both the Gold Cup and Grand National.
The powerful grey is now 12 to 1 (from 20s) for the Gold Cup with William Hill and Coral. The same firms quote 14 to 1 for the Grand National.
Simon Sherwood rode Desert Orchid to victory in the 1989 Gold Cup and is now dreaming of winning the race again as a trainer - with another grey.
"Today was the big test to see if he was a Gold Cup horse and I couldn't be more pleased with him," said Sherwood.
Suny Bay had vied for the lead for most of the way with Mahler but by the fourth from home his extravagant jumping had taken him to the front.
See More Business was the main rival at this stage but he spoiled his chances when pecking at the second last.
Keeping up the gallop, Suny Bay comfortably held the staying-on Escartefigue, with Strath Royal keeping on well to finish one and a half lengths away in third. See More Business faded to fourth Sherwood inherited Suny Bay when he took over at Uplands on the retirement of Charlie Brooks during the summer.
Escartefigues's trainer David Nicholson said: "Don't forget he's a semi-novice taking on seasoned chasers. Softer ground would have helped as well."
Escartefigue is likely to be in action next in the King George VI Chase at Christmas.
See More Business won the King George last year - and has that race in his sights again.
"If anything he ran better than he did in this race last year - and I know he'll improve a lot," said trainer Paul Nicholls.
John McNamara was yesterday handed a 10-day ban for causing intentional interference on Oscail An Doras in the Bacton Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase at Hereford.
