Go Conquer was an impressive winner of the Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster – sparking Grand National hopes for his connections.

The 10-year-old was prominent throughout and won by six lengths at 8/1 for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and high-profile owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

Monbeg River and Go Conquer were vying for the lead almost throughout, with Martin Todhunter’s runner-up mostly shading that contest until the winner took over in the straight and stayed on impressively over this three-mile trip.

He and Tom Bellamy were in no danger from that point, chased by 25/1 shot Monbeg River – with Venetia Williams’ Calipto another five lengths back in third.

Go Conquer’s owners have caused a stir by failing to enter any of their horses so far for this year’s Cheltenham Festival – reportedly because of safety concerns.

Discussions between themselves and the course are ongoing, but it appears unlikely at this stage any Cheltenham race will be on Go Conquer’s agenda.

The owners’ racing manager Jason Maguire instead nominated the Randox Health Grand National as an intended target.

“That was good,” he said. “Obviously he’d gone up 4lb for being beaten here the last day. He was up against it, but Tom got him into a great rhythm, and he jumped brilliantly. He got collared on the run-in here last time, so Tom was mindful of that and hung on to him as long as he could. The main aim is the Grand National. We’ll see where we go after that.”

The winning jockey added: “It was very straightforward from my point of view. I didn’t have to do an awful lot – he took me everywhere. I just sat on him and let him do the work. He never missed a beat jumping. I couldn’t believe going down to three out I was still on the bridle going into the straight.”

Bellamy is in no doubt Go Conquer is an Aintree contender, for owners who finished second there with The Last Samuri in 2016.

“I’d say the National will be his aim now,” he said. “It won’t be easy going off 158 or something like that, but I’d love to ride him round there. He’d be a good jumper round there and enjoyable for whoever gets the leg up.”

Speaking from Cheltenham, Twiston-Davies added: “We always thought a lot of him, and the ground and distance was right for him today. Tom did a lovely job on him.”

LATE SCARE

Lady Buttons survived a late scare as she held on by just a neck from the rallying Indefatigable in the olbg.com Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle.

Phil Kirby’s Queen Mother Champion Chase hope took in this Grade 2 back over the smaller obstacles – a surprise manoeuvre to some pundits after two successive wins over fences.

But the switch narrowly paid off as she took her winning sequence to four out of four, held up early fifth of the six runners, before pouncing to take over from Indefatigable jumping the last.

The evens favourite and Tommy Dowson appeared all set for a routine victory at that point. But as they tied up in front, Indefatigable – three years Lady Buttons’ junior, at six – lived up to her name and pushed the winner uncomfortably close.

Yorkshire trainer Kirby admitted afterwards to a mixture of relief and admiration of his stable star.

“She knows it here, and I think she knows where the paddock is,” he said. “She jinked here last time at the same place. She thinks she’s done enough. She’s been around long enough now, and knows her job.”

Kirby has yet to make a final decision over Lady Buttons’ Cheltenham target with the mares’ hurdle still a possibility, but the Champion Chase much more likely.

He added: “She’s very good, and I think she’ll be better on again on softer ground and a competitive race where they take her longer – because she only has run one really. I’m not going to make a decision about Cheltenham today.

“I half-changed the plan a few days ago over the Huntingdon race (on Friday), just because I wanted to stay left-handed more than anything. I’d say she’s more likely to go over fences for the Queen Mother rather than the Mares’ race – but she is half the price for that race. We’ll keep the options open as long as we can, and I won’t make my mind up until nearer the time.”

Dowson added “It’s brilliant – thanks to Phil. I couldn’t claim in that race, so it’s massively appreciated. (Jockey) Adam (Nicol) told me how to ride her and said not to hit the front too soon – but I did. As soon as you give her a squeeze, she gets there. She’s probably different class to them – she’s a serious mare.”

SURPRISE WIN

Nadaitak made up for a blip at this course last time as he sprang a 12/1 surprise with a wide-margin win in the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle, also a Grade 2 – completing an across-the-card double for his trainer Ben Pauling.

Nico de Boinville kept the outsider in a field of four in close touch throughout with 6/4 joint favourite Commodore Barry, who set a searching pace over three miles and half a furlong in search of what would have been a fifth win in his last six.

The five-year-old then launched his challenge in earnest approaching the third-last and was soon clear, passing the post 22 lengths in front of Truckers Lodge.

De Boinville said: “I wasn’t expecting that. I was surprised to be that far in front. I looked round at the half-furlong pole and couldn’t believe it. Off a nice gallop, he stayed. Cheekpieces were applied this time, and they helped – he is a nice horse, going forward. Whether it was the strongest renewal, I’m not sure, but he could go down the Albert Bartlett route.”

Andrew Megson, who owns Nadaitak with his wife Jane, added: “I don’t know if he’ll go to Cheltenham. It’s up to Ben – Aintree maybe, but it will be Ben’s call.”

Also on the Doncaster card, the Paul Nicholls-trained Dynamite Dollars was an easy winner of the Grade 2 novices' chase.

Paul Nicholls’ Arkle contender was sent off a 1/4 favourite, after victories at this level last time out in Kempton’s Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase and previously Sandown’s Grade 1 Henry VIII.

The hat-trick was never in serious doubt as Dynamite Dollars and Harry Cobden held a narrow advantage throughout, from just three rivals, and quickened when challenged over the last two fences by Ballywood.

Alan King’s five-year-old runner-up had also won his last two races, handicap chases at Taunton and here over Christmas.

But, in receipt of 8lb, he could not match the finishing kick of the year older Dynamite Dollars – who had a comfortable three and a half lengths to spare at the line.

Assistant trainer Harry Derham said: “It was a case of job done. It wasn’t ideal he had to make his own running, but Harry (Cobden) said no one was going to.

“It didn’t suit him, because he is better off having a strongly-run race – but it looked fairly straightforward in the end.

“It was a fair horse behind him, and he’s not had a hard race. There were just a couple of nervy moments, because you just knew he wasn’t as focused as he might have been as he was out in front.”

Plans remain fluid as to whether Dynamite Dollars will need another race before heading to the two-mile novice championship in March.

Derham added: “He’s got loads there. It’s just that when he’s in front he’s not certain to show it. We’ll see how he comes out of this. I don’t think Paul has ruled out either having another run or going straight to Cheltenham.

“Obviously, all roads lead to March. He wasn’t by any means tuned up for today. We’ll work towards March.”

Nicholls, speaking from Cheltenham, is in no mood to draw significant conclusions from Dynamite Dollars’ latest win – although suggested another prep run may be in order before the Arkle.

“That was no trial for anything, and it was a bit of a joke,” he said. We knew he was probably going to be in front. He had a good look at the fences and he has just had a canter round and won – it doesn’t tell you anything about anything. I might give him one more run, because it won’t do him any harm.

“He has done no more today than school round. He had been let down a bit, so it is almost like his first run of the season. He will get sharper and better. He has run well when he has run in proper races. He wants a fast-run race, with a lead like we have seen on his last two starts. He has just shown his well being, and nothing more, but it is a nice prize to win.”

READ THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TRAINER NICKY RICHARDS IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND