The pair had a good battle up the straight and Parknasilla (20-1) responded to all Barry Fenton’s calls to get the better of the argument by a head with the third horse Datito 17 lengths adrift.

Easterby’s son David said with a smile: “It is not often one of our hurdlers wins first time out, it must be down the man schooling him, me.

“He has done it well and I think dad would like to run him in the Triumph Hurdle if he wins next time out and it would be nice to take him down to Cheltenham.”

Easterby went on: “It is the first time Barry has ridden for us for a long time and he did a good job, and it was a good effort for a horse first time out over hurdles.

“He was bred by his owner Lady Bland and he is a consistent trier on the Flat, and I think he is capable of winning back on the Flat.”

Fenton, who was cautioned for careless riding ‘on the run to the line’, said: “I have ridden a winner for Mick before, but it was a few years ago now.”

Charlie Mann returned from a skiing holiday on Monday night and was welcomed home with a winner as Keltic Bard found his best form again under Noel Fehily in the Groby Beginners’ Chase.

Mann was represented by Chrissy Barnard, who said: “We will never know what was wrong with him at Uttoxeter (when favourite but only fifth 25 days ago), but he is in better form now and I was quite confident this morning.”

Salhood, who had been only just touched off by Bold Bishop last time at Stratford, went one better when taking the honours under Robert Thornton in the second division of the Nomad Novices’ Hurdle.

Trainer Steve Gollings said: “He is still green and has a lot to learn, but I think he is all right and although he does not have any fancy entries he will have in time.

“I am pleased for his owner John Webb, he has put a lot of money into the game and has 13 horses with me, including several three mile chasers for next year.”

Heather Dalton’s visit to the course reaped a double dividend with Ankles Back, winner of the gg.com Novices’ Handicap Chase returning home with a companion the Shifnal trainer having claimed third placed Resistance out of the seller for £6,000 (€8,600)

She said of Ankles Back: “We were a bit worried that the ground might be too soft for him but it was all right. He does not have a lot of experience yet but he is a nice horse and wants good ground. I am pleased for Ray Bailey as he is our biggest jumping owner.”