The 16-1 shot, bought for 8,000 guineas out of a seller at Carlisle, came with an eyecatching late run from off the pace to score by three-quarters of a length from Mister Benedictine in the hands of Graham Lee, who went on to ride a 82-1 treble.

“It was so frustrating missing out on Cheltenham because he was one of three horses on 119 and we just missed out,” said the Malton handler.

“We also stood to get a £100,000 (€146,000) bonus from Betfred because we won the Series Final at Newcastle with him.

“Whatever he does now is a bonus because he’ll be a right horse next year when we go chasing.

“Before that there’s a couple of races at Aintree and also one at Punchestown. There’s also a nice handicap at Ascot we are looking at.

“Although he has been winning on soft, the key to him is fast ground.”

Three Mirrors, also ridden by Lee, justified prohibitive odds to win the BBC Radio Lincolnshire Mike Molloy Memorial Beginners’ Chase for fellow Cheltenham hero Ferdy Murphy.

Second on his previous four starts, the 2-9 chance gained the lead at the eighth fence and crossed the line with three and a half lengths to spare from the well-held Ballyman.

“We’ll give him a break now, but he looks the sort who could go on a bit,” said Murphy.

“The small field here seemed to suit him nicely.”

Leer completed his hat-trick when 3-1 chance Brook No Argument, carrying the colours of Group One-winning Flat performer Somnus, showed plenty of grit to repel Masra by two and a half lengths.

“She’s got such a great attitude and is very willing,” reflected owner-breeder Lady Caroline Legard.

Tony Dobbin picked up a one-day ban (March 30) for using his whip in the wrong place on the runner-up.

Gidam denied Tom O’Brien a piece of history in the Racing UK On Channel 432 Handicap Hurdle.

O’Brien is just one victory away from breaking the record for the most winners ridden by a conditional jockey in a season (92) but had to make do with second place aboard Cousin Nicky.

A couple of careless mistakes hindered O’Brien’s progress, but that should take nothing away from John Mackie’s 11-8 winner, who seared through a windswept snow-shower to collect by five lengths for Phil Kinsella, who rode a hat-trick at Wetherby on Saturday.

“We’ll look to Aintree now where there’s a nice three-mile Listed handicap for him,” said Mary Mackie, wife of the winning handler.

John Cornwall’s Kercabellec (4-1) loves Market Rasen and clocked up his fourth win at the course – and third success on the spin – in the Eric & Lucy Papworth Handicap Chase.

“Unfortunately the handicapper is now going to gather him up in his clutches and put him back on the treadmill,” mused Cornwall.

Conor Dore’s softly-softly approach with Shamrock Bay reaped handsome dividends after a victory in the Thomas Carroll Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Dore has had no end of problems with his five-year-old mare, who had not been seen on a racecourse for five months, when he finished down the field on the Flat at Catterick.

She looked in grand order back over timber, however, and drew readily clear of her nearest pursuers after the last to win with six lengths in hand from Makandy.

“We did all sorts of tests with her and she was ready to run here,” Dore said of the 12-1 winner.