The Cheltenham Festival is the likely target for Chariot Charger, a most impressive winner of the EBF "National Hunt" Novice Hurdle Qualifier at wind-swept Taunton.

Jack Doyle sent the five-year-old into a clear lead in the home straight and had six lengths to spare at the post, with 100-1 outsider Lord Tomnoddy runner-up, ridden by claimer Hadden Frost for David Pipe's Nicholashayne team.

"We have to look at Cheltenham, but we've also had the final of this EBF event to consider," said Andover handler Emma Lavelle.

Gambles on Silk Hall and Lucidor came unstuck in Division I of the Langford Trust Novice Hurdle, when both were out of the frame behind Quartz de Thaix, on his debut for the Hereford stable of Venetia Williams.

Wilson Renwick set the pace on Brendan Powell's Benfleet Boy but the four-year-old faded to third behind Sam Thomas, riding the three-and-threequarter-length victor and Moves Goodenough, partnered by Tony McCoy for Swindon trainer Andrew Turnell.

McCoy turned the second leg of the novice event into a procession on Eradicate, a high-class performer on the flat for Mark Johnson before moving to Nicky Henderson's yard and finished five lengths clear of Alan King's Sadler's Star.

Dominic Elsworth led from the tapes on My Moment, then had to settle for third place after McCoy took control in the home straight.

"He is a charming horse with a lovely attitude and really enjoyed jumping," said the elated Henderson, who is likely to give Eradicate a run with a penalty next time before deciding on a possible target at Cheltenham.

The Williams-Thomas combination scored again when Oscar Jack trotted up by six lengths to record his first success over fences in the SIS Novice Chase.

Richard Johnson tried to lead all the way on Baseball Ted, trained by Philip Hobbs at Minehead, but had no answer to the challenge of the confident Thomas.

Johnson struck on Oldrik for Hobbs in the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Hurdle when the six-year-old beat Jonjo O'Neill's Night Cru, under McCoy, by three and a half lengths.

James Davies parted company with Topless when clear in the Carlsberg UK Chase, leaving Doyle to win by a distance on Pangbourne, from Wiltshire trainer King's Barbury Castle team.

Williams and Thomas failed by one and a quarter lengths to complete a treble in the EBF Doncaster Bloodstock Sales NH Flat Race after Fleur de Vassy trailed in behind Donal Fahy on Gilwen Glory, trained by Evan Williams at Llancarfan.