Depleted card features just five races after walkover

A depleted card that initially attracted just 27 runners due to the fast ground suffered a further bodyblow less than an hour before the first race when Sue Gardner, who had four declared runners, withdrew the first of them, Trans Express, from the novice handicap hurdle. This meant that the two-runner event became a walkover for the Paul Nicholls-trained San Satiro, with the meeting reduced to five races.

San Satiro therefore provided the second leg of a double for the trainer and rider Harry Cobden, who took the opening novice hurdle with the 1-6 shot Rouge Devils, whose owners include Sir Alex Ferguson.

Nicholls, who also won with Alcala at Ludlow, made it four for the evening when decent Flat performer Trevisani trotted up in the 2m2½f maiden hurdle to give Cobden his third win from three rides on the card.