Ruth Jefferson saddled her first winner as a trainer as Cyrus Darius bolted up to repeat his victory of 12 months ago in the Timeform Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.
The smart performer was of course trained by Jefferson's father, Malcolm, who died two weeks ago. His funeral is on Friday in Malton.
Jefferson has only saddled a handful of runners in her own name but it was perhaps fitting that one of the better horses in the yard would break her duck.
A Grade Two winner as a novice, his chasing career has not reached the heights that once looked likely but back over the smaller obstacles, he looked in a different league to his three rivals.
Cyrus Darius (5-2) travelled like a dream throughout for Brian Hughes and the heavy ground did not stop him pulling 12 lengths clear of Better Getalong.
Jefferson has been left with a yard in rude health, with the likes of Cloudy Dream, Mount Mews and the potentially top-class Waiting Patiently, who runs in the Grade One Ascot Chase on Saturday, among the stable stars.