Henry Daly's six-year-old had to dig deep to get his nose in front and was then all out to keep the momentum going on the run-in and hold Lough Derg (50-1) by a length and a quarter.

Richard Johnson got the 8-11 favourite into the firing line two flights from home but his mount did not come clear as many expected, although in fairness the ground was slower than ideal.

The sponsors left Mighty Man unchanged at 6-1 for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, while cutting Black Jack Ketchum into 4-5 favourite from even-money. Stan James also left him as a 7-1 shot, with William Hill and Blue Square standing their ground at 6s, although totesport went 11-2 from 13-2 and VC Bet 5-1 from 6s.

Daly said: "He is better on good ground and found that a bit difficult, so I am praying that Cheltenham don't turn the taps on. This was always the plan before Christmas and it will depend on the ground if he runs again before the Festival - I don't want to floor him on ground softer than he prefers."

First-time blinkers had earlier worked the oracle for Daly's Billyvoddan as he turned the Listed BGC Silver Cup Handicap Chase into a procession under Leighton Aspell.

The field were well strung out following the first couple of fences in the three-mile test, but the 25-1 winner was always travelling well and popped the final couple of fences nicely to beat Zabenz by an easy 12 lengths in the £70,000 contest.

Daly said: "He didn't run at Cheltenham last weekend as they had so much rain, and I wasn't happy to see the rain here last night. The blinkers have made all the difference though and he just stargazed last time without them."

Acambo bounced back from a layoff of 224 days with an authoritative display in the £150,000 Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle.

The familiar David Johnson colours were carried by Timmy Murphy - riding the first leg of a treble - as the 71 chance cruised home in the 20-runner race, scoring by two lengths from the antepost favourite Tarlac (11-2).

The five-year-old has now won four times from seven starts over timber, and winning trainer David Pipe, who also bagged a hat-trick, said:

"He had summered very well.

He has filled out and become a man.

"We were going to go to Cheltenham and take on Detroit City in the Greatwood, but he got cast in his box and we had to miss the race."

Acambo had been touted as an Arkle prospect, and Pipe continued: "We will have to see what the handicapper does and see where we go, but to the best of my knowledge he hasn't jumped a fence."

Cashmans introduced the winner at 20-1 for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, while Stan James went the same price from 33s and cut him to 12-1 from 14 for the Arkle.

Pipe's day began in the best possible fashion when Tony McCoy was seen at his strongest driving Tamarinbleu home in the Des Gleeson Graduation Chase.

The 10-11 favourite pulled clear along with a back-toform Crozan, charging to the second-last and battling tooth and nail before prevailing by a short head.

Pipe's work was complete when Seven Is My Number made an impressive debut in the Mar City Developments Championship Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The Murphy-ridden 7-1 chance could have been called the winner a long way from home before powering clear of Earth Planet by three and a half lengths.

Reflecting on his successful afternoon, Pipe said: "It was a brilliant day and we thought we had one or two nice chances."

Murphy had gained his second win when Ringaroses made it two from two over timber with a smooth success as the 15-8 favourite in the Foundation Developments Novices' Hurdle.

The promising five-yearold trounced Breathing Fire by three and a half lengths and is now 20-1 from 33s with Ladbrokes for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.

Trainer Henrietta Knight said: "The further he goes the better he goes. He might have one more run before the Festival as he is already pretty experienced."