Gone To Lunch put his abundant stamina to good use as he provided Somerset trainer Jeremy Scott with a Grade Two success in the GPG Novices' Chase at Newbury.

Last winter the eight-year-old elevated Scott to new heights with his efforts in staying hurdles, which culminated in a fifth-placed finish at the Cheltenham Festival.

Jumping fences was always going to be his game and Tony McCoy's mount has slowly been brought to the boil this term.

The 5-2 chance enjoyed a wide-margin win at Hereford last week and followed that up by finding most for pressure along the run-in to fend off fellow pace-setter Tartak by three and a quarter lengths.

Scott said: "The race at Hereford helped to boost his confidence, and he will be better on better ground and in a faster-run race.

"There are no firm plans but I might try and find a long-distance hurdle for him over Christmas. We will hunt around and see where we end up."

McCoy followed up moments later with a strong ride aboard the JP McManus-owned All right Now M'Lad at odds of 14-1 in the Jewson Handicap Chase.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He picked up nicely coming into the straight and he did jump well.

"I thought the ground would have been too quick for him really, but he handled it well."

Paul Nicholls was out of luck in the Grade Two feature as The Tother One failed to complete under Sam Thomas, but the partnership hit the jackpot in the Rooney/Hall Beginners' Chase with Pasco.

The 8-11 favourite was just behind Straw Bear last time at Exeter but with the benefit of his seasonal debut he relegated the Champion Hurdle fifth to third this time, and crossed the line 13 lengths ahead of Isn't That Lucky.

Nicholls said: "He needed the run at Exeter. He had a nice run around but got tired late on.

"He was much sharper today so we rode him positively, and he might come back here for a two-mile-two-furlong race over Christmas as a flat track suits him."

Carole's Legacy kicked off what could be another significant few days for Nicky Henderson by capturing the EBF/Robert Alner Fund Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

The likes of Punjabi will be out to stake his Champion Hurdle claim this weekend for the master of Seven Barrows, who teamed up with Barry Geraghty to take the first race of the three-day Hennessy meeting.

His 11-4 chance travelled upsides odds-on favourite Over Sixty approaching the final flight before drawing clear to deny the market leader by two and three-quarter lengths.

Henderson said: "She will come on for that as she is green and can do only one thing, which is improve.

"I think that was a fair contest and they have pulled clear so are probably pretty smart fillies."

Paul Webber saddled his third winner inside 24 hours as Edgbriar (9-2) stayed on best of all in the CSP Novices' Handicap Hurdle, while 11-4 favourite Hector's Choice provided Philip Hobbs with his fourth consecutive success in the TT Tents – Marquee People – Conditionals' Handicap Hurdle.

Henry King (14-1) forged clear in the Burges Salmon Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race to earn a 33-1 quote with Cashmans for the Cheltenham Bumper.