Venetia Williams provided renowned gambler Harry Findlay with a belated birthday present and eased the pain of a recent loss as Aachen scored first time out at Taunton.

Dr Richard Newland plundered another big handicap pot when sending out Burntoakboy to lift the Coral Cup with something in hand.

Boychuk appears ever more certain to be pulled out of next week’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase, unless the ground dries up significantly at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls, runaway leader in the trainers’ championship, and stable jockey Ruby Walsh enjoyed another fruitful day at Cheltenham with a near 166-1 treble.