SANDOWN’s Friday card had small fields for its two Grade 2 novice contests but it still gave an exciting afternoon. The Paul Nicholls-trained No Drama This End continued to make a big impression as he won his first graded hurdle in the Grade 2 Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The Walk In The Park five-year-old settled in third and came through along the rail on the bridle over the last two hurdles to go on to a five-length win without being asked a question. “He sauntered round and did that very nicely,” Paul Nicholls said of the McNeill and Barber family owned gelding.

Now favourite with many bookmakers for the Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Challow Hurdle over the new year is his next target.

Doyen Quest put up a jumping exhibition for a novice in the three miles Grade 2 Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase but he was perhaps too exuberant and the Gary and Josh Moore-trained favourite Salver (6/4 favourite) paid compliments to Lulamba who had beaten him by over 10 lengths at Exeter when he travelled smoothly into contention coming to the Pond Fence and went on to win by 12 lengths under Caolin Quinn.

It was completing a double for trainers and rider and while it is still early days to get excited over Triumph Hurdle contenders the Moore’s Macktoad (3/1 joint favourite) ran out an easy winner of the opening juvenile contest on his British debut.

A €125,000 Arqana purchase, the grey son of Beaumec De Houelle scored by three and a half lengths.

There was an even easier winner of the handicap chase when James Bowen and trainer Warren Greatrex combined with favourite Keep Running for an 18-length success.