Bench Warrent ran out a convincing winner of the Victor Lucas Memorial Novices' Chase at Market Rasen under Noel Fehily, but the success brought back some painful memories for his trainer Charlie Mann.

Fehily sent Bench Warrent to the front at the fifth fence from home in the extended two-mile six-furlong contest and gradually drew clear to score by 18 lengths from Pamak d'Airy.

Mann said: "This was the horse Noel broke his collarbone on three days before the King George last year.

"We had to get four different jockeys (for his runners on Boxing Day) and the day turned out to be a disaster.

"It was the worst day of my training life, Noel has been with me for 12 years and a stable jockey like him is invaluable.

"Bench Warrent jumped super today, he loves soft ground and wants three miles, he is a very nice horse to have."

There was a dramatic start to the day as odds-on favourite Mille Chief was brought down at the second last flight in the Rachel Butcher Happy Birthday Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, allowing Sergeant Pink to go on and claim top honours.

Mille Chief, also market-leader with some bookmakers for the 2010 Triumph Hurdle, looked likely to win and was a close second to Bocamix who fell and brought him down.

The incident left Sergeant Pink clear and he stayed on well to pass the post with 13 lengths to spare over King's Counsel.

Sergeant Pink (14-1), who was ridden by Keith Mercer, is trained only eight miles from the course by Steve Gollings, who said: "He won as a two-year-old on the Flat but since then he has not had the ground.

"He is very genuine and jumping is his game, he has really got his eye in on his last two schooling sessions and he will be some horse as a chaser."

There were concerns for Mille Chief when the screens were put around him, but his rider Robert Thornton said: "I sat on his head to keep him still, fortunately he was just winded.

"He made a couple of mistakes because he was a bit keen and he had just taken a blow (when brought down) but he would have gone on again and I think he would have won - we will give him a couple of weeks off now."

There was another shock for punters in the Enjoy Raceday Hospitality At Market Rasen Races Novices' Hurdle as David Bridgwater's 28-1 chance The Giant Bolster opened his account at the third attempt under a dashing ride by veteran Rodi Greene.

Greene got a great run up the inside from the last hurdle to head the 15-8 favourite Night Orbit and he stretched away to score by two and a half lengths.

A delighted Bridgwater said: "He should have won his bumper last year and if he had been trained by a bigger yard he would have been favourite today.

"Still, it is nice for a small yard to have something to go to war with. He is a very good horse and this will do for starters."

River Logic defied a 593-day absence to win the West Lindsey Leisure Centre "Hands and Heels" Jumps Series Handicap Hurdle under a good ride from conditional Alex Voy.

River Logic is owned by Roger Fell who has a team of "20 plus" horses at his stable at Nawton, where James Hetherton currently holds the licence, but Fell said: "We are just waiting to get the go-ahead from the BHA for David O'Meara (former jockey) to take over the licence."

Lorum Leader came out best under amateur Tom Weston in the Book Your Conference At Market Rasen Handicap Chase, after which trainer Dr Richard Newland said: "I am very, very pleased.

"I have had him a year and I hope he will shape up into a decent four-mile chaser."

Newland's Carrickmines was still there with a chance when he fell at the third last in the final race, which went the way of Take It There in the hands of Felix de Giles.