Bambi De L’Orme was 13 lengths further adrift, while favourite-backers knew their fate early on as Mambo De Mottes unseated his rider at the fourth fence.

Calatagan was gaining his eighth success under National Hunt Rules, having also won on the Flat at Beverley, and Jefferson may now raise his sights.

The Castleford has been downgraded to a handicap after previously been a Grade Two event and Jefferson said: “I don’t know what we will do with him now because of his rating, but we might have a look at the Victor Chandler at Ascot (on January 20).

“He ran a blinder there in November really, he made a mistake and was also stopped in his tracks so he did not have a lot of luck. The only thing is that he would want really soft ground over two miles down there and I don’t know if they would get it.”

The Malton trainer went on: “On good ground he wants further than two miles so we will have to see, but he has been great servant.

“Maurice Camacho and his wife Sue Camacho bred and owned him and when I saw him walking back from the gallops one morning I liked him, and when they said he was for sale I bought him privately.

“He had run on the Flat for them and quite a few jockeys rode him, including Kieren Fallon, and they all said he was a decent horse.”

Full As A Rocket ran away with the Racing UK For £15 Per Month Novices’ Selling Hurdle in the hands of conditional Tom Greenway and his return to the winner’s enclosure brought memories flooding back for winning trainer Richard Ford.

The gelding was led around the unsaddling enclosure sporting a rug with the initials ‘MD’ on and having retained the 5-1 winner without a bid, Ford said with a smile: “There will have been some good horses walking around here in a rug like that, but none as bad as him!”

He then explained: “I rode winners for Monica Dickinson under Rules and in points and of course along with her husband Tony and son Michael they trained any number of very good horses.

“One day I was at Catterick and she said to me that I should call at her stable on the way home, so I did and she gave me all sorts of tack and equipment, including rugs like this.”

Fearless Foursome (4-7 favourite) defied a penalty and top-weight to complete a four-timer in good style in the hands of Peter Buchanan in the Tony Dickinson Novices’ Chase, and there is just a chance that he will bid to make it five at Ayr on Tuesday.

His trainer Nick Alexander, saddling his first winner at the course, said: “We only put him in at Ayr in case something happened today, but Peter said he has only had a schooling session and that he had bags left.

“We will have to see what we are going to do, but there is also a nice race for him at Sedgefield on January 9.”

Pay Attention (4-1) found just one too good for her on six occasions over hurdles last season but, given a lovely ride by Russ Garritty, she made a successful debut over fences in the Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre Novices’ Chase.

Her trainer Tim Easterby said: “The handicapper just had her last season - she just wasn’t right earlier on this time and that is why she has not run before now.

“She jumped well and Russ gave her a lovely introduction.”

Impeccable Guest (5-2) made it two in a row over jumps in the hands of conditional Warren Cafferty when she landed the skybet.com Introductory Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

But she had luck on her side as Art Historian looked all over the winner when he blundered and unseated his rider at the penultimate flight.

She was a 29th winner of the year for the Middleham Park Racing syndicate and trainer Pat Haslam’s son Ben said: “She is tough and genuine and loves her racing.”

Conditional Tadje Collier, who rode Art Historian, had better fortune when Smoothly Does It, having his first run for Richard Fahey and the Ipso Facto Syndicate, which is made up of Timeform employees and their friends, ran out victorious in the Wetherby Races Next Wednesday 3rd January Handicap Hurdle.