NICKY Henderson always said it was fairly pointless running the mare Verdana Blue on soft ground and, having upset stable-companion Buveur D’Air in the Christmas Hurdle, she did quite well to finish fifth in the big one at Cheltenham.

She was much better suited by the surface at Ayr and bolted up in the CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle, Henderson taking advantage of the race’s status as a limited handicap by putting up Connor Brace, who can claim 7lbs.

Although well-beaten in this race last year, on her form this term the seven-year-old should have been shorter than 4/1 favourite and could be named the winner a long way out as she cruised up to Leoncavallo and Nube Negra to lead on the bit two out.

She then strode seven lengths clear of Dino Velvet and Equus Amadeus to score with complete authority. The ground was so quick that she broke the two-mile course record set 24 hours earlier, and Henderson withdrew five stable-companions at the meeting.

Brace, 17, from Porthcawl in south Wales, is attached to Fergal O’Brien’s stable and rode his first winner as a conditional at Perth last August.

“Nicky just told me to get a lead and then let her go,” he said. “She’s lethal on this ground,” the trainer added, before suggesting the seven-year-old deserved a rest.

“That would seem to rule out Punchestown, although she won so easily here that there may yet be a rethink, especially as stable-companion Brain Power has lost his way and finished last.

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Paul Nicholls is about to reclaim the trainers’ title from his great rival and was on the mark with 2/1 favourite Secret Investor, who was ridden prominently by Harry Cobden in the Grade 2 Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase and jumped the last particularly well before pulling away from Louis’ Vac Pouch.

Always very definite regarding future plans, Nicholls spoke of early-season chases at Chepstow while Secret Investor remains a novice.

The Skeltons have been in cracking form all season and completed a 20/1 double with Azzurri in the Listed Scotty Brand Handicap Chase and Molly The Dolly in the J & D Pierce Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase.