Pat Murphy will bid to realise the dream of the late George Palmer with Maktu after the seven-year-old outstayed his rivals in the Lingley Caterers Handicap Hurdle at Hereford.

Gary Moore just bested Nicky Henderson as Verasi landed the first running of the new-look intercasino.co.uk Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.

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.