Open Day books Cheltenham ticket

Open Day will head to Cheltenham next month for the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle after notching consecutive wins under champion jockey Tony McCoy at Sandown.

There were clues a big run may have been on the cards thanks to the presence of his owner JP McManus, and the recent Market Rasen winner was backed from 6s into 4-1 favouritism for the Finmeccanica Battlespace Solutions Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

He jumped the final flight in unison with a trio of rivals but his stamina came into play up the run-in and Jonjo O'Neill's runner struck by four lengths from Fin Vin de Leu.

O'Neill said: "You'd have to be pleased with that and he has outstayed them really.

"The Coral Cup was an option but he is probably too young for that and I imagine he will head for the Fred Winter Hurdle."

Robert Thornton returned to the winner's enclosure for the first time in 24 days as Wind Instrument hit the right notes in the gruelling three-mile Chemring Group Handicap Chase.

Alan King's retained jockey had been sidelined with a back injury and had been out of luck since returning to the saddle on February 8.

However, he got back in the winning groove as Wind Instrument (12-1) recovered from a less-than-polished leap at the second last to peg back Maktu for a neck success.

King said: "That is great for 'Choc' and it is good to see him back."

The trainer added of the winner: "He didn't play at Newbury last time so we schooled him in blinkers at home and they seem to have made the difference."