Iris's Gift - disappointing run (Getty Images).

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Jamie Moore's week took a dramatic turn for the better at Lingfield as he steered It Takes Time to an unexpected success in the £100,000 totesport Chase.

Less than 48 hours after he was handed a 21-day suspension for breaching the non-triers' rule aboard another Martin Pipe-trained runner, an offence which he still vigorously denies, Moore was bringing the prize home on the 14-1 chance.

Much attention in the race surrounded the return to action of Iris's Gift, but despite jumping well in the main, last year's Stayers' Hurdle winner tired badly turning for home and had nothing left to give over the last couple of fences, weakening badly to finish a long last.

Another novice - albeit one with far more experience - Ollie Magern had blazed a trail up front, but he was being stalked on the home turn by It Takes Time and the winner of the race 12 months ago, Hand Inn Hand.

The trio held every chance at the last but it was the enigmatic It Takes Time who came out best as he ran on strongly close home to get the better of Ollie Magern by two lengths, with Hand Inn Hand a further two and a half lengths away in third.

Reflecting on a difficult week, Moore said: "It's been very bad. This is great but it doesn't make up for 21 days without a ride, because all I want to do is ride horses.

"He travelled nicely, and although he missed three out and two out, he sprinted away nicely on the run-in."

Moore added that he was yet to make a decision over whether to appeal over his suspension, knowing that a failed attempt would almost certainly rule him out of the whole of the Cheltenham Festival.

It Takes Time has a number of options at that meeting, with the two-and-a-half-mile Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy an obvious potential target.

But nearer to hand, next Saturday's Racing Post Chase at Kempton could appeal as a possible stopping point given that he will have just a 3lb penalty to add to his current weight of 10st 10lb.

Pipe, speaking at Wincanton, was giving little away.

"He did it well," he said. "He's in plenty of races at Cheltenham but I suppose two and a half miles seems to be his trip now."

Connections of the runner-up were delighted with Ollie Magern's performance and confirmed him on course for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

"He's jumped brilliantly again and he's done absolutely nothing wrong," said owner-breeder Roger Nicholls.

"I am delighted and we're looking forward to the SunAlliance now."

Ollie Magern remains unchanged at 5-1 with Totesport and VC Bet in the betting for the race.

Meanwhile Iris's Gift's owner Bob Lester was looking on the bright side.

The Nantwich-based publican made the trek down south complete with the usual large party of friends and family who go everywhere with the horse.

They looked on as the eight-year-old made his first appearance for almost a year after suffering two hairline fractures of a cannonbone last August.

It was also the first day back in action for horses from the Jonjo O'Neill yard, which has not sent out a runner since Boxing Day because of a virus.

Even though Iris's Gift weakened tamely from the fourth-last fence, Lester refused to be disappointed with the performance of last year's Stayers' Hurdle hero on his chasing debut.

"He was a bit novicey with his jumping a couple of times, but that was to be expected," said Lester.

"The name of the game today was to come here and educate the horse. He has got round and that was the main thing.

"Barry (Geraghty) said he was delighted and none of us are surprised that he needed the run so badly. He's won £2,000 for coming fifth and that will pay for the petrol money anyway!

"Just to see him back on the track is brilliant. It means a lot to me because you always wonder when they get a serious injury."

Bookmakers William Hill pushed Iris's Gift out from 20-1 to 33-1 for next month's totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but Lester remains keen for his beloved grey to attempt to defy his inexperience over fences.

"If the boss (trainer Jonjo O'Neill) says different then we'll have to have a rethink, but I am still keen to go that way," said the owner.

"It will be interesting to see what he makes of it all.

"We had to start somewhere and today's trip would have been on the short side for him.

"It'll be tough to get another race into him before Cheltenham, but I remember a couple of years ago when he ran 12 days before finishing second to Baracouda in the Stayers' Hurdle, so it can be done."

Geraghty added his support to Lester's comments.

"Considering that this was his first-ever run over fences, he didn't jump at all badly, and he was going to be badly in need of this race," he said.

"Once it was obvious that he wasn't going to win, I eased him right down, but he'll come on plenty for it."

Iris's Gift was sent off the 3-1 favourite for the race.

Seebald was pulled up after the eighth fence and taken for veterinary examination in the horse ambulance, but was later reported to have suffered only a minor overreach and is expected to make a swift and full recovery.

Pipe's travelling head lad Bob Hodge reported: "The cut is right on his joint, in a place the vets can't get to, but they reckon as long as we can keep it clean he should be all right."