NICKY Henderson’s hurdlers continue in good form and, with the ground firming up, Sign Of A Victory was made 3/1 favourite for the Grade 2 QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle.

He moved up threateningly with two to jump but Cheltenian was not stopping in front and Richard Johnson kept him going to score by a neck.

Philip Hobbs has nursed Cheltenian, 10/1, through tendon problems and saw him finish second in the Betfair at Newbury before a fair eighth in the County Hurdle, where he lost a shoe.

“He looked a fantastic horse when he was winning the Cheltenham bumper all those years ago and showed what a big heart he still has,” Hobbs said. Whether the race turns out to be rather grandly titled only time will tell but Johnson also won the Grade 2 Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase on Richard Lee’s 3/1 chance Top Gamble, whose task was made simpler when 11/8 favourite Oscar Rock was hampered and came down three out.

Lee has had some good horses through his hands and will put Top Gamble away for the summer. The seven-year-old handled this quicker ground and two and a half miles but will drop back to two on softer going next term.

Oliver Sherwood and Leighton Aspell will never forget this season and the good stories keep coming.

The best-named horse in training, Puffin Billy (Heron Island-Downtown Train) started at 7/2 and fought back heroically to deny warm favourite The Last Samurai in the opening chase over three miles and a furlong. The Hennessy is his early target next season.