Hobbs was proved wholly correct in coming to this meeting rather than Punchestown with the 2-1 favourite, whose record now reads three straight successes over jumps following a promising debut in a bumper in which he finished fourth.

The trainer envisages one more hurdle race before Captain Chris switches codes.

He said: "Richard (Johnson) said he got a knock from a horse running down the hill and he wanted to get away from that one, explaining why he hung right.

"We'll check him out but that will be it until the end of October when he can still run over hurdles as a novice in another race at Kempton (where he's won twice).

"All concerned think he's crying out to go further and hopefully we'll head towards the Arkle next year.

"While he does want further he has the pace to go two miles in a race run as ferociously as the Arkle."

Midnight Chase bravely fought off all challengers when successfully making most for trainer Neil Mulholland and jockey Dougie Costello in the Nicholson Holman Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

The ultra-consistent gelding took a while to find his feet in the chasing sphere but in current mood could well win another nice prize before the end of the season.

When Sound Stage closed in on him approaching the last, the 14-1 chance found extra against the far rail to score by nine lengths. It was another 11 lengths back to the third Description.

Mulholland said: "He's tough. He schooled so well before he went chasing but it took him a while to get his act together on the track itself. Now the penny is dropping.

"He got his own way in front and Dougie was as positive as it's possible to be, that's why he's my stable jockey."

Mulholland added that should the ground remain safe he will definitely give Midnight Chase one more outing this season.

Banjaxed Girl made the raceodds.com Mares' Handicap Hurdle her sixth success from eight outings this season in the gamest fashion, but none can have given her trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies as much pleasure.

This is a race in which locally-based Twiston-Davies has done well over the years and Banjaxed Girl was ably partnered by his 17-year-old son Sam to make much of the running and gamely fight off one challenger after another.

The 7-1 winner was pressed all the way to the line by Alasi but held on the score by a head, with Cat Six three and a quarter lengths back in third.

"Sam's had a great year, and still has the Scottish National with Razor Royale and the Bet365 Gold Cup with Hello Bud to look forward to," observed Twiston-Davies.

"But this mare has exceeded our wildest dreams. I thought she had too much weight but she's incredibly tough. She's won six now and has done enough."

Reflecting on a season that was highlighted by Imperial Commander's triumph in the Gold Cup, the trainer went on: "We've won £1.6million, which is more than ever before. It's a season that will be hard to match."

Alex Ferguson's purple patch continued when Picture This, who the Manchester United manager owns with Ged Mason and Ron Wood, landed the Cheltenham Business Club Handicap Hurdle off bottom weight.

Ferguson scored with What A Friend at Aintree and Aeotos at Lingfield and is having abundant success to bolster his hopes that United can eclipse City in the Manchester derby this Saturday lunchtime.

Paul Nicholls has given Picture This (5-1 joint favourite) a light campaign and put the improvement of Harry Skelton's mount down to the ground.

The trainer explained: "This horse wants good ground nowadays and I may give him one more run before going novice chasing in the autumn.

"We were going to go to Ayr and kept changing our minds, but we got it right. Sir Alex is having a good week, and it augers well for what is a huge game for the club on Saturday."