Jonjo O'Neill celebrated his first winner of 2016 when Another Hero stayed on stoutly to land the Openbet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase and complete a Ludlow double for Richard Johnson.
In fairness, the Jackdaws Castle handler has barely saddled a runner since the turn of the year but with the Cheltenham Festival just six weeks away, his supporters will be glad he has finally turned a notable corner.
Another Hero (3-1 favourite) was having just his second run over the larger obstacles, but was left in the clear when stablemate Ivy Gate unseated at the second-last.
"He's a nice horse, but is still green and hopefully he'll keep progressing," said Johnson.
"Jonjo said to just get him in a rhythm and hopefully he'd outstay the rest and that's what happened. He tended to jump a little to his left, but it's only his second run over fences, it's nothing major. He stays and he jumps, he could be nice."
The champion-elect had earlier won on Philip Hobbs' St Saviour, who maintained his unbeaten start to his new discipline in the Openbet Juvenile Hurdle as the 4-6 favourite.
Johnson told Racing UK: "He's got a good attitude. The ground is very hard work, especially for juveniles - it's sticky. His jumping was a bit scratchy, but he was on his own a long time and was a bit novicey. Realistically I think we're probably looking at a Fred Winter horse."
Robin Dickin had not saddled a winner since March 2015 and felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders when Timon's Tara (7-1) won the Openbet Mares' Handicap Hurdle under Jack Quinlan.
"I can't tell you the relief. I've been in this game 30 years as a trainer and it has without doubt been the hardest period of my career," said Dickin.
"It has been my biggest draught ever and for someone who is addicted to winning it has been hard. It's nice to finally end it."
Nicky Henderson's Divine Spear looks a long-term chasing prospect but opened his account over timber in the first division of the Openbet "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle as the 1-4 favourite.
Winning rider Nico d e Boinville said: "He improved for the experience at Doncaster, where he ran with the choke out. The aim today was to get him to settle and go through the race in the right way. It all went smoothly. He'll come on loads and he's one to look after with chasing in mind."
The second division went to Gary Moore's Britanio Bello (4-1) in the Ar Mad colours.
Rider Josh Moore said: "He's taken a while to acclimatise from the French style of racing and this slightly better ground has helped. He's been bought as a prospective chaser, he'll jump a fence better than he jumps hurdles."
Amateur jockey Theo Gillard was hit with a 28-day suspension by the stewards for persisting to ride an exhausted horse.
Gillard, who claims 7lb, was riding 250-1 chance Blackadder for his father Mark in the juvenile hurdle and h aving pulled hard early, he made frequent mistakes before tailing off quickly, although the young jockey did not pull his mount up.
Blackadder took a tired fall at the final flight and it was some 10 minutes before he rose to his feet.
On examination by a vet, the horse was found to be post-race normal but the stewards ruled Gillard was in breach of Rule (D)45.3 and suspended him for 28 days, on dates to be notified by the British Horseracing Authority.