Irish raider Back in Front got favourite backers off to a flying start with an easy victory in the opening Gerrard Wealth Management Supreme Novices Hurdle.

Solerina, who landed her sixth success of the season at Leopardstown on Sunday, heads 128 entries in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday, March 12.

Nobody saw much of it, not least his 19 rivals, but Chauvinist was a clear-cut winner of the £100,000 (€156,000) Ladbroke Hurdle at a fog-bound Ascot today.

Beethoven will aim to hit the right note on his seasonal debut in the ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles at Chepstow on Saturday.