Trainer Paul Nolan sent two horses to Doncaster on Saturday and both won their graded races, both ridden expertly by Sean O'Keeffe.

Thedeviluno emerged as a genuine contender for Cheltenham Festival honours with a commanding display in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices’ Hurdle.

Second to Willie Mullins’ Doctor Steinberg in a Grade 2at Navan last time out, the Paul Nolan-trained gelding went on his way as a 15/2 chance on Town Moor, for what looked a very competitive Grade 2.

He was given an ultra-patient ride by Sean O’Keeffe, who was at pains to keep his mount on the bridle as long as possible.

Ruth Jefferson’s Country Code was the only one to make a race of it and at one point they were separated by the width of the track. But when they came together it was the Irish challenger who displayed stamina in abundance to win by five lengths.

“Sean was super-cool on him. When they jumped off and went a good gallop in that ground I thought they had to ease off at some stage,” said Nolan.

“To be fair I could see Sean was coming up to challenge going well, but there was the horse on the other side challenging too and I didn’t know if he’d go past, but I could see Sean hadn’t fully gone for him.

“He just had loads of horse at all stages. I was disappointed when he got beat at Navan last time, without sounding cocky, but the horse he beat the first day (Skylight Hussle) has won a Grade One, so hopefully all roads lead to the Albert Bartlett now.

“We had Latest Exhibition just beaten in it by Monkfish a few years ago (2020) and he was just unfortunate to bump into a machine a few times, but he did win his Grade 1 so I’m hoping to god if this fella is half as good we’ll be happy.”

Half an hour later Nolan and O'Keeffe combined to win the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle with Feet Of A Dancer.

The seven-year-old mare, who had finished second to Wodooh at Leopardstown over Christmas, was sent off the 7/4 favourite and won by two lengths, leading home an Irish-trained 1-2-3. She was followed in by Dream On Baby (Emmet Mullins) and Jetara (Jessica Harrington).