Howard Johnson continued his fine start to the campaign with Striking Article's success in the skybet.com Supporting Spinal Research Bobby Renton Handicap Chase the highlight of a fantastic treble at Wetherby for the Durham handler.
The son of Definite Article has always been held in high regard by connections and was considered good enough to contest the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old had come to grief over the larger obstacles at Sedgefield in April but sent off at 9-2 on his comeback, his jumping was much more assured and he quickened away in the straight to beat Nirvana Swing by eight lengths.
There was a moment of worry for connections soon after passing the post as Denis O'Regan jumped off with his mount apparently lame, but it soon transpired the problem was not serious.
"He's fine now, he just cut himself, but like a lot of these sons of Definite Article, he's soft," said Johnson.
"I know I shouldn't say that after he's just won and he's done it well, but the way he was acting I thought his leg had fallen off!"
He went on: "He's jumped very well today and when he's fresh, he's grand, so we'll probably wait four weeks with him now.
"The horses are running well but we haven't even had the chance to get them on the grass yet as the ground is so firm and they haven't done any schooling on it.
"I'm hoping to get some of my better ones out shortly, but we need some rain."
But it was to be a day marred by four equine fatalities as Marrel and Divex had to be put down after suffering injuries in Striking Article's race, while Nut Hand had to be destroyed following the first race and Miss Giboa broke a leg when falling in the last.
Johnson, O'Regan and owner Graham Wylie were immediately back in the winner's enclosure as bumper winner Malakai (4-11) got his career over obstacles off to a decent start in the Ramada Wetherby & Ramada York Fairfield Manor Novices' Hurdle.
"He'll be grand, but really he wants to be in a better race with a bit of cut in the ground," Johnson continued.
"He'll learn a lot from that and it won't do him any harm."
The treble was completed by even-money favourite Marleybow, who jumped his rivals silly in the Sign Up And Win at wetherbyracing.co.uk Beginners' Chase.
Johnson added: "This horse looked very good when he won his bumper and this summer has done him a lot of good, so hopefully he'll go on from here."
Chris Grant celebrated his 53rd birthday with a winner as Ravati galloped his rivals into submission in division one of the Rachel Wright Memorial Hurdle at Wetherby under Lucy Horner.
Grant said of the 15-8 chance: "He might not be very big, but he's a little terrier of a horse and is a good little jumper. He deserved that today."
Kickahead (5-4) secured his third win from his last four starts with an impressive display in the totesport Supports Spinal Research Handicap Hurdle.
Kevin Frost, assistant to winning trainer Ian Williams, said: "We will keep him on the go while the ground is good and once it changes, we'll switch him back to the Flat for the all-weather and hopefully make the most of his low mark."
The state of the track has come in for plenty of flak over the past 12 months but speaking after the second race, trainer Ferdy Murphy felt conditions had improved massively following £50,000 worth of remedial work over the summer.
"Keith (Mercer) is a very good judge and he says it is now totally consistent all the way round," said Murphy.
"There is some way to go yet but Jonjo (Sanderson, clerk of the course) deserves a medal for the work he's done."
Sanderson added: "The feedback we've had has been very good.
"I've spoken to Dougie Costello who said it's nice, safe ground and Robert Thornton said it was lovely ground with plenty of grass.
"The work we have done this summer was never going to solve all the problems but we are moving in the right direction."
Donald McCain and Jason Maguire combined to take the Get Discounts Online at wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Chase with Wizards Dust, while Tim Vaughan's Manor Park opened his account over obstacles in the Call 01937 582035 To Book Raceday Hospitality Maiden Hurdle.
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