Haldon Hill emerged into sunshine after a morning of blinding deluges and Philip Hobbs emerged from a troubled week with the new star he urgently needs. A compellingly open race for the William Hill Gold Cup Chase was won with authority by Planet Of Sound, a progressive horse that could end Hobbs's recent famine at the Cheltenham Festival.

Third behind Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle Chase in March, Planet Of Sound will be a credible candidate for the Ryanair Chase next spring. Before that, though, he could return to Cheltenham for the Boylesports Handicap next month after justifying favouritism in Exeter's keynote race.

A determinedly self-effacing character, Hobbs is not prone to public emotion. He was his usual, matter-of-fact self in the winner's enclosure but the satisfaction of victory in a £75,000 chase must have been enhanced by relief.

Two of his auspicious novice hurdlers had run deplorably earlier on the card, a postscript to several weekend disappointments, but Hobbs was privy to still more deflating news. Tarablaze, so highly regarded that the trainer described him as “my best chasing prospect”, will miss the entire season.

“He bled on the gallops last week and we had a similar problem with him last season,” Hobbs revealed. “The best thing is to give him loads of time off. It's bad news but not necessarily a total disaster as we do hope he'll be back next year.”

If Planet Of Sound produced balm for this wound, he also allowed the Hobbs team an overdue moment in the Exeter spotlight. When Monkerhostin won this race for them in 2005, he was largely overlooked amid the front-page grief provoked by the death of Best Mate.

Thankfully, no such drama distracted from the action yesterday. Even the fog which descends so regularly on this amiable country course stayed away for a competitive renewal in which none of the nine runners would have seemed implausible winners.

The disappointment was Nacarat, who contested favouritism, and then contributed to a strong early pace, but dropped away last of the finishers.

Mahogany Blaze was still in front going to the third last but the challengers were ranged on both sides. Cornas, another testament to the training skills of Nick Williams, briefly took it up but Richard Johnson galvanised Planet Of Sound up the stands rail and he drew clear on the run-in.

Twist Magic was a notable third. Carrying top weight and minimal stable confidence, he crept through the field under Noel Fehily and delighted Paul Nicholls, his trainer. He said: “I thought he had no chance so that was a hell of a run and will put him right for the Tingle Creek Chase.”

He will, of course, play second fiddle to his stablemate, Master Minded, the two-mile champion, at a Sandown meeting which could also be the target for Nicholls's two winners yesterday.

Royal Charm's talents had been well advertised beforehand and he broke his maiden over hurdles with conviction. Tchico Polos was a less predictable winner of the novices' chase and indebted to a skilful front-running ride by Christian Williams.

The absence of Ruby Walsh is allowing Williams to show how his riding has matured and this was a fine example, allowing a free-running horse his head while conserving enough energy to repel Dee Ee Williams in the closing stages.

Tchico Polos is owned by Chris Giles, a resident of Esher, so Nicholls intends sending him next to the Henry VIII Novices' Chase on Tingle Creek day. Dee Ee Williams, who could reoppose, was a fifth runner-up in four days for Nick Gifford.

Timmy Murphy rode the first winner yesterday, making all on Moleskin for Victor Dartnall. Murphy, however, ended the day in hospital after a shuddering fall from the same trainer's Dastardly Dick.

Murphy believed he had broken a collarbone, which will sideline him for three weeks. Among the rides he may miss is the intended return of Well Chief when he takes on Master Minded at Cheltenham on Sunday week.