But it was this aspect of his performance which almost cost him victory as he made his only mistake when in command at the final flight.

Robert Thornton did well to gather Penzance together and the combination went away again on the run-in to score by eight lengths from the disappointing 8-13 favourite.

King confessed to having what he called a “rare bet” on the winner and commented: “He’d been working with Howle Hill and there are not many can do that. In the car on the way down I decided to have one of my rare bets and took the 40s (about the Triumph), which was the top price on offer.”

King is uncertain where Penzance will run prior to the Festival.

“The Cheltenham January meeting could come too soon but we’ll have to see,” he said. “I think the chances are he’ll have at least one more run before the Triumph and possibly two.”

Amarula Ridge, owned by J P McManus was making his debut for Philip Hobbs, whose wife Sarah admitted the writing was on the wall early in the home straight.

She said: “We thought he was a bit special but then he had only worked over four furlongs at home and it could be we got it wrong.”

Martin Pipe had his usual say in events when Celtic Son made up for his Uttoxeter defeat at the weekend with a length and half success over Musical Mayhem in the Nell Barrington Is Great! Handicap Hurdle.

Timmy Murphy judged the pace of the contest to perfection on the 4-6 chance who, although quoted at 4-1 against in-running on Betfair at one point, soon got on top of the second on the run-in to score by a length and a half.

Pipe is holidaying in Egypt and was represented by his son David, who said: “I think he may have been beaten by a good horse at Uttoxeter and I don’t think this race was of that quality.

“This horse has the size and the scope to make a three-mile chaser.”

The Ed Boyce 40th Birthday Novices’ Handicap Chase saw fluctuating fortunes for the eventual winner Waterspray.

He did well to survive a bad mistake at the end of the back straight and then rallied on the run-in after being headed by Macnance to beat that rival by a neck.

The success was just reward for John Spearing, who decided to run his 11-4 chance even though the rain he had dreaded fell quite heavily before racing.

The southwestracing.com Mares’ Only Novices’ Hurdle went to Reseda (7-1), who benefited from a waiting ride by David Dennis before coming home five lengths clear of Latin Queen.

Trainer Ian Williams was represented by his travelling head lad Peter Mowen who said: “We were a bit worried about the ground because it was heavy when she ran at Stratford she hated it.

“She’s a chaser in the making and can go on to better things.”

Richard Phillips has his horses in good form and the market told the story before his well-backed Yann’s came home nine lengths to the good over Charlies Future in the Orchard Restaurant Handicap chase.

Richard Johnson gave the 5-2 winner a confident ride and the combination was in command at the second-last fence.

Gerald Ham saddled two of the seven which set out in the New Year Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle and it was the longer-priced of the pair, Penny’s Crown, 13-2, who prevailed with a 21-length triumph over Mounts Bay.

Ham, who also saddled Black Swan, went to 4,200 guineas to retain his mare, and said: “She appreciated being able to dominate and has spit the dummy out in the past when she’s been tucked in behind.”

There was drama towards the finish of the Taunton Racecourse Website Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race when Men of Destiny jinked left and ran out at one of the dolls around a furlong from the line.

The Brendan Powell-trained gelding was in command at the time and his departure left the way for Little Saltee to gain a fortuitous success for trainer Jim Old and jockey Carl Llewellyn as they came home five lengths clear of the promising Private Note.