Royal Mix entered the Triumph Hurdle equation as Paul Nicholls saddled the grey to a neat debut success in the Q Associates Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Newbury.

The grey was a winner on the level in France and, after landing odds of 1-3 under Ruby Walsh, he was trimmed to 25-1 from 33s for the Triumph by Coral, with totesport leaving him unchanged at the latter price.

Nicholls said: "He had been running on the Flat in France and only came to me on October 5.

"He had a couple of easy weeks so hasn't done much - he will improve enormously as the season goes on.

"He will definitely be trained for the Triumph Hurdle. We'll try and find another race in a month and work towards Cheltenham."

Jim Lewis' Midas touch was in evidence as Rivaliste was another front-running success for the Nicholls-Walsh combination in the Sanderson Weatherall Marick Developments Novices' Handicap Chase.

The lucky owner of three-times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate has just six horses in training at present, but 6-4 favourite Rivaliste kept the good times rolling by posting a two-length triumph.

Lewis said: "I am delighted with that. I am shaking like a leaf and haven't been like this for a while.

"I went down to Paul's last week and watched him school and he was awesome.

"He won well in the end and I think he was dossing close to the line."

Consigliere had been all the rage for a race at the Paddy Power meeting earlier in the month, only to finish third.

However, David Pipe's six-year-old rewarded those who kept the faith with a polished success in the sportingbet.com Handicap Chase.