Dickie Diver makes a Cheltenham splash to initiate double for Coleman

The form was in the book as far as Dickie Diver was concerned and he duly landed odds of 30-100 in the style of a fast improving young horse when making short work of his rivals in the 2m 3½f maiden hurdle.

Nicky Henderson's six-year-old had finished head behind Lisnagar Oscar, who subsequently scored in Grade 2 company, on his British debut at the Welsh course and he always looked in charge when seeing off runner-up Kingsplace on this occasion.

Winning rider Aidan Coleman was taken by the performance, saying: “He’s a very nice horse and was entitled to win like he did as the horse that beat him last time won a better race at Haydock next time. He can only go on from here.”