Paddy Brennan and Gloucestershire trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies lavished praise upon Little Josh as he came more than 25 lengths clear of his rivals at Lingfield.

While the form of the remainder of runners in the Copthorne Novices' Hurdle did not amount to much, the 4-9 favourite barely rose from a canter to extend his record under Rules to three wins and a second from four runs.

"Paddy was very excited – he thinks he could go to the top," said trainer and winning owner Twiston-Davies, based at Naunton, near Cheltenham.

"He said the horse has so much speed.

"I think we will stay at two and a half miles for the moment – he could maybe go further on faster ground – but the world's our oyster."

William Hill advanced a quote of 50-1 for Little Josh in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Dominic Elsworth incurred a one-day whip ban (December 9) aboard the pulled-up Chaim.

Twiston-Davies is adept at preparing horses after a long layoff and although Brennan had to roust 5-4 favourite Night Safe along on his first time over fences in the Burstow Handicap Chase, he made light of a 763-day absence to complete a double for connections.

Another with aspirations at the top table is Gauvain, who took his chance dropped down to a weaker level in the Felbridge Beginners' Chase.

Representing the red-hot Charlie Mann stable, Gauvain (11-10 favourite) was beaten by exciting prospect Free World at Sandown last time and previously finished fifth in a decent contest at Exeter.

His jumping was honest, if not flashy, but pilot Noel Fehily hardly had to ask a question as they came in by 13 lengths.

"He ran well last time in what was a very strong contest, and he has done it well," said Fehily.

"I'm not sure of plans but hopefully he will go on to better things."

Andrew Turnell's yard was another to advertise its wellbeing in the Marsh Green 'Junior' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

While regular jockey Mark Grant had to settle for third on the better fancied Bolanderi, the plaudits went to the stable's 10lb claiming jockey Edward Cookson and 16-1 shot Scandal – the only non-favourite to oblige all day.

Turnell runners flanked the pacemaking Sophies Trophy but Scandal's fortuitous passage up the inside rail saw him pinch proceedings by half a length.

"They had both been working quite well but, looking at it, whichever had claimed the 10lb would have made the difference," explained the trainer.

Alan King's Divali Princess had little trouble justifying odds of 8-11 under Charlie Huxley in the eventimage.tv for Photo Finish Mares' Novices' Hurdle, adding to her previous strike at Huntingdon.

Owner Joy Fenton beamed: "We had her dam, Diva, with Alan a while ago and have been with him since he was at Jackdaws Castle. We bred this one, so we're thrilled."

Tony McCoy pulled out all the stops to force Stradbrook (7-4 favourite) home in front for the Hartfield Handicap Hurdle and repeated the feat aboard 6-4 market leader Mylord Collonges in the Ashdown Forest Handicap Chase.