Saturday 28 November 2015 16:53, UK
The rest of the news from Newcastle, where Smooth Stepper gave Sue Smith a 10th winner of the month in the opening contest.
Smooth Stepper gave Sue Smith a 10th winner of the month when determinedly seeing off his challengers in the Weatherbys Bank Novices' Limited Chase at Newcastle.
A dual winner over hurdles last term, he looks made for fences and jumped as if on springs.
The six-year-old hit the front half-way up the straight when The Ramblin Kid cried enough and Danny Cook had to keep him up to his work to see off the fast-finishing Wizards Bridge, his fellow 7/2 joint-favourite, by three-quarters of a length.
Smith was winning the race for the second successive year after the success of Straidnahanna 12 months ago.
"He was a bit behind the bridle the whole way but he just keeps responding," said Cook.
"He was idling in front at the finish, but he's a nice horse and hopefully he can build on that."
Assistant trainer Harvey Smith said: "He'll be a lovely staying chaser in the future.
"We haven't rushed him, we've given him plenty of time and hopefully now we've got a horse."
Micky Hammond is another trainer in good nick and Caraline ran out an easy winner of the STP Construction Handicap Chase.
Sent off at 8/1 after a disappointing run over hurdles previously, she had won over fences in France and appeared well suited to the return to the bigger obstacles.
Joe Colliver never had an anxious moment and came home 12 lengths clear of the 5/2 joint-favourite Mumgos Debut.
"She'd won over fences in France and jumped really well there," said Hammond.
"Joe had an unlucky fall on Maximiser at Newbury in a big race on Friday so it's nice to give him a winner so soon after."
Charlie Longsdon has high hopes for Ballydine after he battled to victory in the Weatherbys Bank "The French Furze" Novices' Hurdle.
A full-brother to Longsdon's smart hurdler Kilcooley, the five-year-old's chance looked to have gone when Ruby Walsh cruised to the front on Jonniesofa and he fluffed his lines at the second-last.
Tom O'Brien gave him time to recover, though, and he ended up winning by three-quarters of length as the 2/1 favourite. "I've always held him in high regard but he's still a baby," said Longsdon.
"He's still big and weak and the hurdle on the turn caught him out on both circuits.
"Tom always felt he'd get there, though. He won't run much more now - one or two more runs this season before he goes chasing.
"I think he'll be every bit as good as Kilcooley. He'll make a lovely staying chaser."
Boric wore down long-time leader The Orange Rogue to win the Marriott Gosforth Park Handicap Chase.
Simon Waugh's seven-year-old was last seen pulling up at Hexham just over two weeks ago but appeared much-improved here with that run under his belt.
The Orange Rogue had seen off several challengers before Boric (12/1) and Grant Cockburn made their bid after the last and prevailed by half a length.
The closing EBF Stallions "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle went the way of Irish raider Baby Bach (3/1), who hacked up by 13 lengths.
