The Ginger McCaintrained winner, running from 22lb out of the handicap, took the lead four fences from home, and after kicking on round the final bend stayed on for a nine-length success.

Kingscliff dropped out the back at one stage after making several slight mistakes, but he battled on and was left in second place when Lord Transcend, the 8-11 favourite, pulled up before the final fence.

Kingscliff 's trainer Robert Alner was philosophical about his horse's display despite his disappointment.

"Obviously it wasn't a great performance with the winner so far out of the handicap, but it could have been a lot worse. He didn't act at all on the sticky ground.

"We knew the ground was horrible but we needed to run him. I think we will go straight to the Gold Cup now."

Kingscliff has now been pushed out to 10-1 from 6-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Ebony Light's delighted trainer has big plans for his charge as he made clear after the race. "He will go for the Grand National now, along with my old horse Amberleigh House, and I go there with two very good shots to give me a great finale to my career, " McCain said.

Earlier on the card the John Queally-trained Al Eile got the better of a thrilling finish with Mister McGoldrick to claim the Commhoist Logistics Champion Hurdle Trial.

Mister McGoldrick took up the running down the back straight and kicked on turning for home under Padge Whelan. However, a mistake at the final flight allowed the Timmy Murphy-ridden Al Eile to get back into the race and only a neck separated the pair at the line.

"The plan is still to go to the totesport Trophy, even with top weight, and that should have put him spot on for it, " a delighted Queally said afterwards. "He is in both the Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but we will see how Newbury goes before making a decision."

Faasel, sent off the 2-1 favourite, finished five lengths back in third, but Arcalis, trained by Howard Johnson, was pulled up by Graham Lee.

Elsewhere, in Lingfield, Tony McCoy landed a tasty double in the two feature races on the card. Firstly, in the intercasino. co. uk Novices' Chase, he guided home the impressive looking Foreman for French trainer Thierry Doumen at 11-8, ahead of evens favourite Le Volfoni.

And he then followed up with a win aboard 5-2 favourite Dom d'Orgeval in the intercasino. co. uk Hurdle.