Nivek's Dream (7/2) provided jockey Andrew Thornton with a welcome change of luck when taking the Toals Bookmakers-sponsored 2m2f handicap hurdle.

The Pat Martin-trained gelding, successful in a maiden hurdle on this card 12 months ago, took advantage of his chief rivals' misfortune to beat Isobella Blue (14/1) by a length and a quarter. Oh So Humbel (4/1) departed at the first flight and, when that hurdle was by-passed on the final circuit, 3/1 favourite Sir Walter Raleigh received a bump causing Paul Carberry to be unseated.

Thornton has missed much of the last seven months through injury following a fall here last October. “I did two discs in my lower back and also suffered a bleed on the right-hand side of my brain. This horse had course form which is always a big help around here, and is also much better when fresh,” said the successful rider.

Alan Magee