Mister Fisher won an exciting renewal of the Napoleons Casino & Restaurant Owlerton Sheffield Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite for the Grade Two contest, Mister Fisher prevailed from a three-way battle after the last in which Al Dancer and Lisp went down fighting.
Too strong at the business end under James Bowen, this is traditionally an Arkle trial but Sky Bet cut him to 7-1 for the Marsh (JLT) Chase over half a mile further at the Cheltenham Festival.
Sky Bet spokesman Michael Shinners, speaking from Doncaster, said: "That looked a good renewal of the race with three good horses fighting it out and you have to say Mister Fisher ran a great Marsh Chase trial.
"He's 7-1 for that race, but if you think he'll stay at two miles at Cheltenham he's 12-1 for the Arkle. He's certainly got options now and he'll be on many punters radar for the Festival."
Bowen said: "He shows a lot of foot when the ground's a bit quicker. He did it well.
"He's been running on soft or dead ground all season and he's not slow.
"He's twice the horse he was last season. He's very good over his fences. He did everything perfect today."
Grounds for victory
"The ground mattered. He's a better horse on better ground," said bloodstock agent David Minton of the Nicky Henderson-trained winner.
"We'll have to look at both the Arkle and the Marsh at Cheltenham now.
"James Potter is in hospital so it will be a big boost for him. He had an operation on Wednesday which is why he's not here."
Harry Reed cashed-in on Bootlegger (12-1) in the Alan Wood Plumbing & Heating Handicap Hurdle before heading to Cheltenham to ride The Twisler in the last race there.
Leading at the final flight, Neil Mulholland's seven-year-old pulled clear of the always prominent Meteorite to score by five lengths.
Reed said: "I had a lovely ride round. He travelled well and jumped well. It makes a difference when they do that for you. Neil's team are in great order.
"He'd run a nice race at Worcester in the summer, but made a bad mistake and it was just a case of getting confidence back into him. It's all worked out today."
