With the latter having finished second in Graded company last weekend, Fiendish Flame was sent off the 1-2 market-leader for this moderate contest and powered away in the straight to beat Alderbridge by 20 lengths.

“I obviously really fancied him today after his run with Son Of Flicka and you feel like you are on a bit of a hiding to nothing in a way,” said McCain.

“He is a horse who got very keen at home after he ran in his bumper and young Adrian Lane has done a lot of work with him at home getting him to settle.

“He was still a bit busy today but he’s done it really nicely and we are in no great hurry with him.”

Fiendish Flame’s victory was the second leg of a double on the card for the trainer and jockey Jason Maguire after Strokestown got off the mark over obstacles in the first division of the two-mile-one-furlong contest.

“He’s a grand horse who I like a lot and I don’t think Sedgefield really suited him to be honest, but it’s just nice for him to get his head in front,” McCain continued.

“He was a little bit green early on and didn’t jump the best in the early stages, but he’s won despite all that and he will improve for a better track and a little bit further.”

However, it was not all good news for Maguire as the stewards found him guilty of careless riding and banned him for three days (February 3-5 inclusive).

Ferdy Murphy had saddled the runner-up in both of those races but went one better in the Lloyds RSB Selling Handicap Hurdle as Bonneta opened her account with a battling display.

The 100-30 favourite looked like running away with the race turning for home but Vehari ate into her lead in the straight and Bonneta was forced to pull out all the stops to register a length success.

The three-mile-three-furlong WBX.COM Handicap Hurdle was always going to be a war of attrition in the testing conditions and as expected the runners came home at long intervals.

The Tim Walford-trained Minella Boys had his rivals well strung out turning for home and passed the post 19 lengths clear of Polobury.

There were just three finishers in the Alan Laverick 60th Birthday Maiden Chase, with Overlady making the most of her light weight to score by five lengths from Bay Cherry.

Favourite Cave Hill was a long way back in third.

Basford Lass confirmed the promise of her debut second when running away with the concluding digibet.com Mares’ Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race for trainer Jennie Candlish and jockey Alan O’Keeffe.