Soliya wins Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Newbury
Tony McCoy was seen at his brilliant best when driving home Soliya to win the Dermot Ffrench Memorial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Newbury.
McCoy set out to make all on the David Pipe-trained winner and the filly, giving weight to all of her rivals, was the first of the leading group under pressure.
However, the 100-30 chance would not be denied and fought off the challenge of Summer Of Love by half a length.
Zanir, who appeared to be travelling better than the first two at the final flight, finished third.
"She's not bad for a little one and what she lacks in size she makes up for in heart," said Pipe.
"She's been gutsy in all of her races and has been a little star since we claimed her in Auteuil.
"We took her to France last time and she was running well until making a mistake four out. I'm not saying she would have won but she would have been closer than seventh on ground that was very heavy."
Alan King proved the well-being of his string ahead of a big weekend for the Barbury Castle team as The Hairy Lemon was kidded home by Robert Thornton in the Strutt & Parker Novices' Handicap Chase.
King sends out Champion Hurdle hope Katchit at Newcastle in addition to Blazing Bailey and D'Argent at Newbury tomorrow, and headed back into the winner's enclosure as his 7-1 chance was kept up to his work to hold Oscar D'Angron by a length.
King said: "He ran a cracking race at Cheltenham a fortnight ago and has schooled away grand so I was quite hopeful, despite top weight."
Eden Linty rattled off her fourth win in a row when forging clear before the second-last to claim victory in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.
The Philip Hobbs-trained 6-1 chance could be spotted travelling well on the inside rail turning for home and bounded clear under Tom O'Brien to deny Welsh National entry, Miko De Beauchene, by three lengths.
Hobbs' wife, Sarah, said: "She is a very tough little mare and is improving all of the time.
"The mares' final back here next spring is the aim and we will run Miss Potts in that race too."
Welsh National sponsors Coral cut the runner-up into 8-1 joint-favouritism for the December 27 spectacle.
Robert Alner's wife, Sally, said: "I am delighted with that and he won't have another run before the Welsh National."
McCoy was seen to great effect again in the feature race when Hobbs Hill made every yard of the running in the AIS Fire Tech Novices' Chase.
The Grade Two event attracted a high-class field but over the final three fences it became a shoot-out between the winner and the 7-4 favourite, Silverburn.
Some spectacular leaps on the run-in by the Charlie Egerton-trained eight-year-old sealed the race, with Silverburn losing nothing in defeat five lengths away.
The 100-30 winner was introduced into the Royal & SunAlliance Chase betting at 14-1 by VC Bet, while the same firm left the runner-up at the same price.
Egerton said: "The horse has plenty of ability but has had his problems, he's bled in the past and is difficult to get right.
"You can right off last year as my horse weren't right and I left him alone as I knew he was a chaser for the future.
"Ideally, I would have liked another week before he ran again but the track and number of runners suited him.
"He's had two quick runs now and there are no plans - although two and a half miles would be his trip."
Nicholls said of the runner-up: "He jumped well but will improve for the run.
"He's had ulcers before so we don't work him too hard at home and Sam (Thomas) thinks he'll get further."
