Jockey Brian Hughes has lead of 18 over rival Richard Johnson after key win

Johnson, just back from a broken arm, was expected to win the novice hurdle on the 1-5 odds-on favourite Strong Glance.

It would have seen Johnson, champion jockey for the past four seasons, take his tally of winners to five in four days.

But it was North Yorkshire-based Hughes who ultimately prevailed on Baron De Midleton for Malton trainer Brian Ellison whose stable star Definitly Red had won his Grand National prep race 24 hours earlier at Kelso.

With Hughes leading Johnson by 133-115 winners in a tantalising title race that concludes at Sandown in late April, both riders hope to be in action at Wetherby today if the course passes an inspection.

Meanwhile Middleham trainer Micky Hammond, who is due to saddle Cornerstone Lad in next week’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, took the handicap hurdle with stable stalwart Roxyfet.

Ridden confidently by Emma Smith-Chaston, Roxyfet was winning on his landmark 100th start under National Hunt rules – testament to his durability.

And Aniknam, whose career has been blighted by tree serious injuries, was a wide margin winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle for Catterick trainer Phil Kirby and popular local jockey Tommy Dowson.

Taking up the running early on, Aniknam and Dowson soon had an unassailable lead – the horse loved the bottomless ground –and had 37 lengths in hand over the runner-up.