Washington Irving outclassed his rivals as he gave Denis O'Regan an armchair ride on his jumping debut in the carlisle-races.co.uk Novices' Hurdle at Carlisle.

Bought for 300,000 guineas out of the Aidan O'Brien yard, he is now trained by Howard Johnson for Graham Wylie and one of his best efforts on the Flat was when finishing fifth, beaten just over seven lengths by the winner New Approach, in the 2008 Epsom Derby.

The ground was very heavy but even-money favourite Washington Irving relished it, travelling and jumping well for O'Regan, apart from being a bit untidy at the second-last.

He eased past Rosbay at the final flight and cantered away to score by 15 lengths from Oil Burner, who got up close home to snatch second place.

He earned just £3,082 for his efforts but is expected to go on to much better things, with William Hill quoting him at 16-1 for both the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Ballymore Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Johnson's assistant Ray Hawkey said: "That was very impressive and he won like a good horse should - he loved the ground and he can jump."

Half an hour later, 5-6 favourite Alvarado, also trained by Johnson and carrying the Wylie colours, was given another super confident ride by O'Regan to win the European Breeders' Fund "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle as he pleased.

Hawkey went on: "Denis is not having to earn his fee today, he is having it very easy.

"Alvarado likes the ground and Carlisle and we thought he would win."

Jason Maguire was offered the ride on Go Native, winner of the 'Fighting Fifth' at Newcastle on Saturday, but stayed loyal to Donald McCain's Comhla Ri Coig, who gave him his 55th success of the season in the jockeyclubracecourses.com Novices' Chase.

McCain explained: "That is some consolation for Jason, he could have ridden Noel Meade's horse in the Fighting Fifth but Comhla Ri Coig was initially going to run at Towcester yesterday and he had to stick with him, he is one of the best horses in the yard.

"He is home-bred so has been with us all the time and today we just wanted to stay out of trouble and he did it well in the end, although Jason said he got there a bit too soon if anything."

Huka Lodge (11-2) is nothing if not game and defied his advancing years to win a thrilling OG's Racing Club Northern Tour Handicap Chase in the hands of good conditional Harry Haynes.

It looked as if Prince De Beauchene was going to complete a treble for the Wylie team, but the 12-year-old Huka Lodge - having his first run for James Ewart - would not be denied and gave his all on the run-in to get the better of the argument by a length.

Owner Steve Jones said: "We have had him since he was six and all his seven wins have been for us.

"I thought he looked very well for his first run of the season, he got his ground as well, that is the key to him.

"He likes it around here and he likes Haydock - he may go there for the Last Fling Handicap Chase on December 30."

Ewart and Haynes completed a double when 13-2 chance Open De L'Isle - another who has quite a liking for the Cumbrian course - put up a good performance to open his seasonal account at the second attempt in the News & Star Handicap Hurdle.

The Simon West-trained Of Course won the concluding racinguk.com Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Steve Magee, who was referred to the British Horseracing Authority over his use of the whip on the 3-1 favourite.

West said: "He toughed it out well. He will go over fences now and will come back here on the December 20 for a handicap chase."