Daly knew he had a flawed diamond on his hands and called on the services of the Olympic eventing coach Yogi Breisner to help rectify the problem. Not for the first time, Yogi proved himself smarter than the average jumping guru.
Hand Inn Hand lined up for the Ascot Chase just hours after a coaching session with the wily Breisner and finally put everything together where it mattered most to forge clear of a high-class field including Impek, Fondmort and Tiutchev.
A hike in the handicap was inevitable after such a convincing performance at Grade 1 level, and Hand Inn Hand's new rating of 159 means he has to concede lumps of weight to a very strong field tomorrow.
Giving up 13lb to Risk Accessor will be no cakewalk, as Christy Roche's Irish raider looked better than ever when pipped by Iris Royal in the Tripleprint and is ideally suited by the likely strong pace.
Exit Swinger has been coaxed back to peak form by Paul Nicholls and is another to consider, while Isio, Clan Royal, Joly Bey and the much improved Kelrev will also have their supporters.
However, in terms of raw running power there are very few chasers at the moment who can match an on-song Hand Inn Hand.
Daly is looking at this race as a springboard to a tilt at the Mumm Melling Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
But first comes a searching test in an unforgiving handicap featuring a big field and some of the stiffest fences in the country.
Hand Inn Hand needs to leave the ground and land safely on terra firma sixteen times in order to continue his rehabilitation.
Judging by past evidence, his followers and his likeable rider Mark Bradburne will have their hearts in their mouths but on balance, the chance is worth taking.
Hand Inn Hand looked a high class chaser at Ascot. He's still fairly weighted and, provided those Breisner jumping lessons have been absorbed, his followers might well be heading for the payout windows again.
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