All the fences were back in for the Eastcoast Seafood & Gouldings Hardware Handicap Chase and well-supported 6/4 favourite Fighting Fit came out on top off bottom weight.

Refitted with the tongue-tie which he wore for last season’s two victories over hurdles, the Kayf Tara gelding was third on the home turn and needed to be briefly pushed along by Luke Dempsey before the second-last.

He was quickly back on the bridle, though, and joined issue with Gevrey between the final two fences. Leading after the last, the seven-year-old duly found as much as looked likely and stayed on well to beat Alice Avril (9/1) by three lengths with another six lengths back to Gevrey (11/4) in third.

Winning trainer, and father of the winning rider, Philip Dempsey remarked: Philip Dempsey, “I was delighted with that and his jumping is improving. They seemed to go steady enough and he picked up well.

“We’ll give him a couple of weeks and make a plan then. Two miles probably suits him on that ground.”

Quotes from Alan Magee