Richard Johnson, forced to give up the big-race rides on Monkerhostin and One Knight over the Christmas period, returned to winning ways at Taunton for Philip Hobbs.

Connections of Be My Belle are confident of a bold show from the mare as she goes in search of back-to-back victories in the Goulding Thyestes Handicap Chase tomorrow.

WILLIE MULLINS remained uncertain last night whether Be My Royal, his winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, would keep the race in the wake of the rash of positive tests for morphine.