Top 40 winner No Drama This End (5/1)

Despite the inclement weather which led to increasingly testing ground on the first day of the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham, there were some fine performances not least from No Drama This End (5/1) in the Grade 2 Hyde Novices' Hurdle. The five year old, who had run creditably in the Festival bumper last spring, he reportedly excited Harry Cobden in his work at home recently and the former UK pointer translated that to Prestbury Park in no uncertain fashion. The Walk In The Park gelding was always moving strongly sitting off the searching enough gallop set by the favourite Heads Up. Cobden's mount made ground coming down the hill and still on the bridle after the second last. A good jump at the final obstacle and Paul Nicholls' latest star landed running and only had to be nudged out to score by three lengths, a margin which flattered those in mind. His trainer immediately nominated the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury (29th December) as his next target with the Turners Novices' Hurdle an obvious aim in the spring. One proviso would be the ground because the fourteen times champion has been adamant throughout that No Drama This End prefers ease in the ground. It was a very taking performance and a terrific result for the Top 40.

L'Eau Du Sud provided Dan Skelton with his third victory in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase during the last five years with an equally striking display. A Grade 1 winning novice chaser last term, the grey came up short at the spring Festivals but couldn't have made a better start to his second season over fences. The seven year old chased Matata for much of the contest until taking over after the third last. A fine leap at the last sealed his win as he strolled up the run-in to beat Jonbon by fifteen lengths. The Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (6th December) will be next where he is likely to cross swords with the runner-up once again, plus Il Etait Temps. A ready winner of the Henry VIII Novices' Chase over the same C&D last year, it promises to be a cracking affair.

Not for the first time, Jonbon underperformed at Cheltenham once again producing some indifferent jumps on the way round. A mistake at the third last finished him off as he trailed in L'Eau Du Sud's wake. He will presumably head to Sandown next week but one wonders whether he will benefit from stepping back up in trip.

Olly Murphy had another successful afternoon on Friday with Wade Out winning the Listed novices' chase over three miles under a never say die ride by Sean Bowen. His stablemate Adonedeal made a good impression when scoring on his Rules debut at Southwell. A wide margin point winner for Sean Doyle, he was acquired for £50,000 and looks well bought judged on his performance in the two miles maiden hurdle. Despite racing keenly early on, the Califet gelding found plenty when asked for his effort before stretching away to win hard held by five lengths. Bred to stay further, he looks to have a bright future.

Finally, congratulations to Value Racing Club who had another winner at Southwell. Jack Hoola was registering his second victory of the campaign when taking the two and a half miles novices' handicap hurdle - he made the members and supporters sweat in the closing stages though having looked like winning comfortably when taking up the running early in the homestraight. Well done to racing manager James Couldwell who celebrated his birthday earlier this week - those last 50 yards probably put a few more years on him, too.