Jim Lewis was back in the winner's enclosure on King George day at Kempton as Breedsbreeze maintained a 100 per cent record over fences in the Nigel Clark Feltham Novices' Chase.

Lewis' famous claret-and-blue silks have been associated with the Boxing Day highlight by the likes of Best Mate and Edredon Bleu – but they had been absent since the latter's King George success in 2003.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Breedsbreeze changed that, though, by taking one of the key supporting events under Ruby Walsh.

The 15-8 favourite jumped much better than the majority of his rivals and came clear from Massini's Maguire at the second-last to collect by five lengths.

Lewis said: "We're very excited about him. Kempton Park is a remarkable place for me with so many happy memories.

"Something always happens around Christmas too. We had Best Mate and Edredon Bleu of course. Christmas just seems to be my time of year.

"It would be wonderful if this horse was running in a King George one day."

VC Bet make the six-year-old their 10-1 joint-favourite for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but Nicholls said: "The only worry about Cheltenham is that his best form has been on flat tracks, but we'll see.

"Whether he goes straight to Cheltenham, I don't know.

"The race which could be ideal for him would be the Scilly Isles at Sandown.

"It's great to see Ruby riding like that and to see the horses in form.

"Some have been winning, but it was a difficult time when we had Ruby out for three weeks."

Sarah Hobbs, wife of trainer Philip, said simply of Massini's Maguire: "We'll have to reverse the form at Cheltenham."

Trainer Keith Goldsworthy said of the third-placed Hold Em: "Tony (McCoy) thought he got kicked when Shining Gale fell, and the loose horse got in his way after that.

"He has run a nice race but with a clear run he might have been closer.

"I have him entered at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and he may run there. My early thoughts on the Festival are that he will run in the Jewson."

McCoy was a notable booking for Andy Turnell in the opener and market support was justified as Micheal Flips ran out a ready winner of the stanjamesuk.com Novices' Hurdle.

The Irish point-to-point recruit had clearly learned from his first couple of starts under Rules and was backed into 3-1 for his seven-length defeat of fellow joint-favourite Fairyland.

Turnell said: "He keeps galloping and Tony said he kept lengthening from the last.

"He will get further but I don't see any reason to go down that route yet. You have to start thinking about Cheltenham now and he could go straight there."

Sky Bet and Stan James quote the winner at 25-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Pressgang was a warm favourite for the stanjamesuk.com Novices' Handicap Chase and managed to land odds of 2-1 despite jumping alarmingly to the left.

Trainer Paul Webber said: "I have no idea why he does it – I hope it's not a physical problem – but I thought he was a stone-cold certainty this morning after the way the handicapper treated him."

Connections have kept the faith with Royaleety (25-1) and their perseverance was rewarded as the lightly-raced nine-year-old overcame a near-year-long absence to take the stanjamesuk.com Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said: "He has only ever run for me once before.

"He has had everything go wrong – we nearly gave up with him last season but I am glad we didn't."