MINELLA Lightning ran a race full of promise on his debut at Belharbour over a year ago, when he was sent off a well fancied odds-on favourite, so it was hard to imagine that it would take him this long to shed his maiden tag, and he did in fine style.

It was the second leg of a double for his rider, Brian Lawless, who is now the joint leader with Ben Harvey in the race for the novice riders’ title. He sent the son of Martaline to the front from flag fall and never looked like getting caught as he strung the field out after the fourth last. In the end, it was a very comfortable success, aided by the fall of the Aidan Kennedy-trained Fox Watch at the last, although he was booked for second.