Graham Lee comes back in on No Refuge.

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Northern racing's emerging holy trinity teamed up to land the opening contest of the Cheltenham Festival for the second day running on Wednesday.

Having struck with Arcalis 24 hours earlier, another big-money purchase came good as No Refuge arrived with a late rattle under Graham Lee in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle to deliver for owner Graham Wylie and trainer Howard Johnson.

The 17-2 winner made up a considerable amount of ground having jumped the second-last flight ridden along in sixth place.

Racing Demon was committed for home on the turn by Jim Culloty as he went past front-running joint-favourite Gold Medallist, who stayed on at one pace to finish fifth, two places ahead of market rival Royal Paradise.

The Henrietta Knight-trained 14-1 shot looked like landing the spoils until the winner rocketed past in the final 100 yards to score by three parts of a length.

Our Ben was another to stay on well from off the pace and he took third, two and a half lengths further away.

If Wylie had been playing it cool after seeing Arcalis's success yesterday, there was no doubting after this race that this is a man very much bitten by the racing bug.

"I didn't think he'd get there," he said.

"At the last he had so much to do and I thought second would be a good finish, but to get there on the line was brilliant.

"I was shaking - I was so excited.

"After he won at Warwick, Howard gave him a bit of a break and although he said that he'd come on well over the last two or three weeks, I don't think we were seriously expecting him to win."

Lee added: "He's just so tough - this guy's heart is in the right place. Happy days again.

"Turning down the hill on the approach to the third-last I was happy. Then they kicked and I got a little bit flat-footed, but turning in all he was doing was staying."

Johnson, who must now be looking forward to the rest of the week with relish, admitted that No Refuge had been something of a slow learner on his arrival at the yard.

"He couldn't jump," said the trainer. "He took plenty of time and work but we've got him there now and he jumped great today. The penny's dropped.

"He's a hardy little horse. I bought five from Sir Mark Prescott and they have all won, and this fellow's a little street-fighter."

Johnson added that No Refuge would not run again this season but that he would stay over timber, possibly stepping up to three miles.

Henrietta Knight was chuffed with the peformance of Racing Demon, who - along with the third horse - already looks a star steeplechaser for seasons to come.

"He ran a blinder and we are thrilled with him," she said. "I suppose he was just on his own in front a bit too long and he just ran down the last.

"He's going to be some horse when he gets over fences. He was brilliant at every hurdle except the last.

"We have always believed in him and always knew he was a very good horse. The winner would have had the experience of running in handicaps on the Flat and just had that bit of toe.

"He has not had many races and he could have another run again this time."

Trainer Willie Mullins said of Our Ben: "He pulled too hard and he jumped like a chaser, but we have always thought he is a real chaser in the making and we'll look forward to coming back for the SunAlliance Chase next year.

"He got shuffled back after three or four hurdles and I think he had only two behind him. He is not the easiest of rides and his three wins have come on right-handed tracks."