Rory Boy advertised the well-being of Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard by taking the Highflyer Bloodstock Four Years Old Novices' Chase at Warwick.

The two-mile contest has thrown up some useful types over the years, with subsequent Henry VIII winner Araldur slaying Paul Nicholls' Cheltenham Festival hero Chapoturgeon 12 months ago.

This time around and it was Twiston-Davies' assured Wetherby winner who gunned every fence and gamely stuck his neck out in the hands of Paddy Brennan to account for 15-8 favourite Miss Sarenne by a length.

Twiston-Davies' assistant, Carl Llewellyn, said: "Both the jockey and horse wanted that and Paddy gave him a super ride.

"We thought the two miles was going to be a bit sharp for him but hoped that the five quick fences down the back would keep him in it.

"He does want a trip and will be better over further."

Sean Curran demonstrated his training prowess when landing the Scottish Grand National in 2008 with Iris De Balme, and again provided evidence of his skills as Ray Mond (14-1) overcame a 767-day absence in the TurfTV Handicap Chase.

Curran said: "I rode him in a bumper a few years ago but he got a leg injury two years ago and had to have 18 months off.

"He came to me a couple of months ago and has done plenty of hard graft.

"Anthony Freeman felt ill after his last ride so I gave the mount to Wayne Kavanagh and told him to be positive as the horse just gallops and gallops."

Diana Whateley, a leading owner with Philip Hobbs, has endured a luckless few weeks but her fortunes took a turn for the better as 5-6 favourite Menorah outpointed Nicky Henderson's Ranjobaie in the Warwick For Conferences "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

Whateley's Grade One-placed According To Dick broke a leg on the gallops last month, while Champion Hurdle seventh and exciting novice chaser Snap Tie is out with a suspensory problem.

Sarah Hobbs, the trainer's wife, said: "It's a lovely for the owner to have a winner after what has happened.

"I think that was a very good race and apart from the last, when he pitched, he has jumped beautifully."

A French Horse, formerly owned by the late Sir Clement Freud, made his mark over timber at the sixth attempt in the Industrial Supplies And Services "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

The Venetia Williams-trained six-year-old was almost brought down at the fifth flight when The Boffinator crashed out, but Sam Thomas kept him upright.

The partnership then cashed in on that recovery to score by a length and a quarter from Topsham Belle.

Williams said of the 10-11 favourite: "He was nearly brought down early on but thankfully managed to stay on his feet.

"He was due to win a race and had a couple of good seconds to his name last season."

Colin Tizzard made the trip to the Midlands from his Dorset base and was rewarded as his only runner of the day, Like A Duke, motored home in the warwickracecourse.co.uk Handicap Chase.

The 16-1 chance was sketchy at a couple of his fences under Tizzard's son, Joe, but was fitted with a vastly superior engine and collected by nine lengths.

Tizzard snr said: "He cost us a bit of money at the Doncaster Sales 15 months ago and has been disappointing us.

"We have tried a different noseband on him and he's been able to get up the gallop at home and it has obviously worked here too.

"He has won over two and a half miles but has plenty of pace so two miles is no problem either."

Ready To Crown (9-1) capitalised on the final-flight mistake of Rothres to land the Frank Brady Handicap Hurdle, while Keith Mercer came in for the spare mount aboard the successful Jaques Vert (25-1) in the EBF/David Nicholson Memorial "Junior" Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.