Cornas wins at Exeter

Cornas stated his case for a big Christmas target when gaining a first success of the season at Exeter.

The 11-10 joint-favourite landed what trainer Nick Williams referred to as a "deserved" win in the Exeter Racecourse Conference Centre Graduation Chase, following some solid efforts in defeat.

Daryl Jacob oozed confidence on Cornas after all four of the fences down the back were omitted owing to a low sun.

The combination tracked Pasco, but were always cantering behind that rival.

Once Jacob let his mount have his head the seven-year-old skipped readily clear to score by 13 lengths from the staying-on Or Bleu.

"That was a nice win. I was very impressed and he deserved it," said Williams.

"He's run three really strong races this season and was entitled to come out on top on the ratings."

Williams has his eyes firmly fixed on Kempton on December 27, adding: "We will do the entry for the Desert Orchid Chase and I'll also put him in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"We've got to go for good races like these based on what he did in the Haldon Gold Cup (runner-up to Planet Of Sound)."

Up-and-coming trainer Sean Curran secured the first double of his career as 16-1 chance Captain Smoothy and 8-1 shot Classic Dream both gained victories.