Nigel Twiston-Davies sent two horses, Baby Run and Florida Dream, from his base near Cheltenham to Haydock yesterday and both obliged at combined odds of almost 10-1.

He could not believe his luck when the bookies offered 13-2 about Florida Dream in the Rectangle Group Handicap Hurdle and took full advantage of their generosity to have a good bet on the gelding.

Afterwards Twiston-Davies said: ''I couldn't understand why he was 61/2-1. I was very excited about it so I helped myself to a decent bet. So that makes it better, much better.''

Florida Dream scored in the style of a very progressive performer.

The race, which was over an extended two miles and seven furlongs, was run at a decent gallop considering the heavy going. Huka Lodge and Kerry Lads set out to make the running chased by Florida Dream, who was kept wide in search of better ground.

Carl Llewellyn moved Florida Dream up to challenge Huka Lodge at the third-last, where Kerry Lads began to fade.

Twiston-Davies' charge soon asserted and stayed on strongly to beat his rival by 2 lengths.

The winner is a full-brother to Florida Pearl and the trainer has high hopes of him.

He said: ''He is a lovely horse and he'll be better when he goes over fences. If he's a quarter as good as his brother he'll be all right.

"He has a big future. We'll just keep working our way up and see what happens.

''He's been foot-perfect in his schooling over poles and he'll definitely go chasing next season.''

Twiston-Davies and Llewellyn had earlier teamed up with Baby Run, who won like an odds-on shot should when romping home in the EBF Annual Badgeholders 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier).

The four-year-old was sent off at 4-9 for the two-mile contest, having finished second to the prolific Marcel in a Grade Two event last time.

On this occasion against lesser rivals he was never really threatened after going on at the third flight.

Llewellyn pushed Baby Run clear on the run-in to beat Harmony Brig by five lengths, with a further 12 lengths back to the third Sharp Jack.

''He'd been quite severely tried and the idea was to win a small one. Now we'll try and win another small one before making our minds up where we go at Cheltenham,'' Twiston-Davies said.

''We might stay over two miles at the moment as he seems quite keen.

''I'm hoping he makes a Supreme Novices horse because compared to the others he's done very little racing and he's improving all the time.

''We'll see how we go, but this was very pleasing.''

Spinofski (9-2) put a disappointing effort at Sandown last time behind him with an all-the-way success in the The Last Fling Chase.

Tom Doyle soon had Paul Webber's charge jumping boldly in the three-mile event.

"He had matters all his own way virtually throughout and shook off his only serious challenger, Monty's Double, on the run to the last fence before galloping away for a seven-length call.

''I don't know what happened at Sandown - he looked a bit sour and he just wasn't inspired,'' said Webber.

''He hasn't done a lot of work since but he had a good day's hunting with the Bicester hounds, ridden by T Doyle, on Christmas Eve and I think that is exactly what he needed.

''He looks so well handicapped on what we've seen at home and he's got plenty of ability, but he's always had a bit of a mind of his own.

''I think if the John Hughes (at Aintree) was three miles and not two six, it would be very helpful.

''We thought of him as a National horse - he's Party Politics' brother - but he keeps slipping down the handicap, too far to get in.''

Eskimo Pie (9-1), who had won over course and distance last month, followed up with a one-and-three-quarter-length success over Kingston Town in the Red Square Vodka 'Fixed Brush' Novices' Hurdle.

The winner is held in some regard by his trainer, Chris Bealby, who said: ''He's going to be a smashing chaser and he could be a Hennessy horse one day.

''We'll probably go for the River Don at Doncaster if it's soft and then give him an entry in the three-mile novice (Spa Novices' Hurdle) at Cheltenham.''

Amateur Stuart Morris, who rode Eskimo Pie, was banned for two days, on dates to be announced, for using his whip with excessive frequency.

In the same race Tom Halliday was suspended for three days (January 10, 11 and 12) for continuing when his mount, Panama Royale, was exhausted.

St Matthew (2-1) took advantage of a favourable handicap mark over fences to make all the running in the R Draper Ltd Novices Handicap Chase.

Sue Smith's consistent six-year-old was racing off a mark 14lb lower than his current hurdles rating and showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as jumped clear to win by nine lengths from Garryvoe.

''He's been fantastic and has got the most beautiful attitude for a racehorse,'' Mrs Smith said.

''He's a very versatile horse. He could go over three miles and could go back over hurdles.''

The Martin Pipe-trained Royal Hector (13-8) won his fifth race this month when getting the better of Pure Mischief by half a length in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

He was winning off a 17lb higher mark than his last victory, and his jockey Timmy Murphy said: ''I probably got there a bit soon - and I think the handicapper has caught up with him now.'