Stuart Edmunds is looking to the Cheltenham Festival with Miami Magic after he struck over fences for the first time in the Ellenborough Park Hotel ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase at Prestbury Park on New Year's Day.

The handler had far from expected his 13/2 shot to cast a spell on his rivals as he furthered his fencing education against the likes of Paul Nicholls’ 6/4 favourite Regents Stroll and Nicky Henderson’s Califet En Vol.

However, Miami Magic booked his Festival ticket with a foot-perfect round of jumping in the hands of Charlie Hammond to register a cosy four-length success over the market leader.

Irish challenger Eagle Fang (Bill Durkan/Philip Byrnes) finished last of the five runners.

Edmunds said: “I think he’s upset some nice horses there and he had some nice form over hurdles, he just hadn’t really bent his back and jumped his fences as he should, but today he did.

“I was expecting to finish third or fourth today then come back here in the spring for the novice handicap off a nice mark, but when you win here, you win here and you have to take it and I don’t think Charlie has given him a smack.

“He went long once or twice and I thought in a minute he will miss one short but he didn’t, he kept coming.

“I think good ground suits him and I think the move up to two and a half miles has helped. You have to be delighted with today.

“I’d hope he can keep improving to get involved at the Festival, he was a graded-placed horse over hurdles and we’ll take him home, make sure he’s all right and have a look.

“He wouldn’t be a horse who will take too much racing so we could go straight there, but we’ll see and it’s a nice problem to have.”

Herakles Westwood

Another horse on track for a Festival return is Herakles Westwood (11/2) after edging out Katate Dori in the Betfair Handicap Chase, but trainer Warren Greatrex is already looking forward to next Christmas after confidently declaring he is a Welsh Grand National winner in waiting.

Greatrex said: “Once he jumped the last he was never going to be beaten and he stays forever, he’s so tough.

“I’m chuffed for the horse because he has been knocking on the door and I half messed up the last day by rolling the dice. He ran so well and was always going to be put up as he was out the handicap and I wondered if that would cost him.

“He loves Cheltenham and gives it everything he’s got and he could be one for the Festival. I might give him a break now and come straight back here as he’s had three fairly quick runs and it’s less than three weeks since the last one.

“The Ultima and Kim Muir would both be options and I think he will win the next Welsh National.”

Local team Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls continued their fine run of form by saddling the first winner of the year at the Cotswolds track, as Step Ahead (3/1) bravely saw off Dan Skelton’s 5/4 favourite Just Golden by a neck in the Enquire About The Cheltenham Bloodstock Club Maiden Hurdle.

It was a landmark first Cheltenham winner for jockey Ciaran Gethings, who said: “He’s a horse with a big future, fingers crossed, and that is my first winner from about 80 rides here – I’ve had too many without winning one.

“I’m only 15 minutes away so it’s great to tick that off and my godson was here to see it which was great.”