Monty Blue is from the family of Denman, and he is trained by the man that started off the super-star in point-to-points, Adrian Maguire. He is a different model to the Gold Cup winner and of course he hasn't got his ability, but the son of Overbury is useful nonetheless and he gained his third win under Rules to add to a point-to-point success, in the Newton Abbot Races Handicap Hurdle.

Equipped with the distinctive white bridle that all Maguire's runners compete in, Shane Hassett cut through the field from the rear starting up the back straight on the seven-year-old, he led two out and stayed on well to see off Parknakyle by a length and three quarters.

Monty Blue was a 12/1 shot and he was coming here off a 160 day break. All of his wins on the racecourse proper have been achieved on heavy ground.

Maguire commented: "He is tiny but you won't get one with as big a heart as him."