The pair were in fine form, with Martin ever more mobile with a recently-installed new knee, and David enthused: "We were not completely surprised, although I didn't back him.

"He's run some decent races during the summer and likes this fast ground, while Johnny has won on him before. It really is great to be back here."

Reflecting on the starting price - rare for any Pipe horse at this course - Pipe junior added: "We thought he was too big and Johnny's 3lb off helped him a good deal.

"I'll be back here tomorrow while Dad will go to Newmarket to supervise our three runners in the Cesarewitch."

Snap Tie looked a natural recruit to the larger obstacles as he took the WBX.COM Novices' Chase in an all-Philip Hobbs finish as he outbattled stable companion Safari Journey up the hill.

The talented seven-year-old was a bit sticky at his fences in the early stages, but encouragingly for connections really warmed to his task as the race developed.

Putting in a leap of pinpoint accuracy to go past Rippling Ring at the top of the hill, he reasserted his advantage at the next and was seemingly in full control when Pigeon Island came down at the penultimate fence.

Approaching the last Safari Journey emerged as a real threat but Richard Johnson only had to change his hands for the combination to forge a length and a quarter clear to justify favouritism at 1-2.

"He was a bit careful early but got better as the race went on," said Hobbs.

"He was going a bit right but soon warmed-up. He took to it at home from day one."

The gelding, seventh in last season's Champion Hurdle, remains a 20-1 chance for the Arkle with William Hill and Paddy Power.

Hobbs added: "I shall probably bring him back for a Grade Two race over this trip at The Open meeting.

"Hopefully he'll have three or four runs before the Arkle, but the one thing you won't see is him competing on soft ground."

Hobbs completed a double when Templer (17-2) and Giles Hawkins stormed up the hill to outpoint On The Other Hand by two and a half lengths in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier).

Hawkins switched his mount inside rounding the home turn and although he was carried further left approaching the final flight, he was in the right place to effectively deliver his winning burst.

Hobbs pointed out: "Going up the inner was a shorter route that suited him well, and the other horses took him there.

"Having won a modest race at Exeter I couldn't find anywhere else for him to go. The plan was to send him hunter-chasing, but he's too high off 132 over fences and it could be we now aim him at the Final of this series."

Kayf Aramis, winner of the Pertemps Final at this year's Festival, put up a most encouraging first outing for his new trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies by staying on into third.

Hobbs went into the sportingbet.com Handicap Chase harbouring real hopes of completing a treble, as he saddled a third of the field courtesy of Parsons Legacy and Boychuk.

However, the former ran as if badly needing the run while Boychuk's chance evaporated with a hesitant jump at the top of the hill.

Up the final hill it boiled down to a straight match between Maljimar and Nelson's Spice, and as Tony McCoy galvanised the latter into overdrive the 7-1 chance got up 150 yards out to pull two and three-quarter lengths clear.

Jonjo O'Neill explained the winner has had a wind affliction. He said: "He carries his head a bit high but that's because he's trying to breathe.

"We were a bit worried about the trip, especially round here.

"I think this was his Gold Cup. He's been on the go through the summer and deserves a break now."