A review of the rest of the action from Haydock as Tom Scudamore got Jester Jet's head in front while Quel Destin impressed under Sean Bowen.
Jet propels to Haydock win
Jester Jet ended a frustrating run of seconds with a hard-fought success in the rearranged olbg.com Mares' Hurdle at Haydock.
Saved from Warwick's abandoned meeting last weekend, the Listed contest attracted a small but competitive field.
Tom Lacey's Jester Jet was sent off at 4-1, having finished second in all her five races this season, and halfway up the straight she looked booked for the same spot again as If You Say Run attempted to make most of the running.
Tom Scudamore timed his run to perfection, though, and she prevailed by a head.
"I wouldn't say it's a relief, because she's lost nothing in defeat most of the time," said Lacey.
"It's just easy for the media to say she's got seconditis - but she's a pleasure to train, and you couldn't question her attitude.
"I think she's just as good over fences, but there was no suitable race, so we'll just mix and match. She's in the Coral Cup, so we'll give that due consideration."
Quel Destin-ed for Triumph run
Quel Destin cemented his claims for the Triumph Hurdle with an all-the-way success in the William Hill Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle.
Paul Nicholls' youngster has been making hay this season, and was sent off the 4-6 favourite to register a fifth success since joining from France.
Sean Bowen set only steady fractions before kicking at the top of the home straight - which sent him clear - but he sprinted away from the last to win by six lengths, and is now around 8-1 for the Cheltenham event.
Nicholls, speaking from Ascot, said: "That is probably one of his best performances, because he has sharpened up. He liked that better ground, and he won despite the ground at Chepstow the other day.
"I've left plenty to work on, and he will improve. He just gets better with every run. He is a leading player in the Triumph.
"That is where he will go now, and he won't run before that. He is tough and keeps galloping, and the one thing at Cheltenham is he will be hard to pass."
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