Luccia laid down a marker for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham when powering to a facile five-and-a-half-length success in the Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

James Bowen’s mount, making her hurdling debut in the extended two-mile Listed contest, was a smart bumper winner last season and maintained her unbeaten record in fine style.

Tracking a decent pace set by She’s A Saint, the Nicky Henderson-trained four-year-old made her move approaching the penultimate flight and drew readily clear.

Bowen said: “It was a decent performance. It suited me that there was a decent pace, as my mare dropped the bridle and was always quite settled. I had an ideal trip around and she jumped every hurdle perfectly.

“She is a decent mare and will be in the future.”

Henderson added: “It is quite brave to make your debut in a Listed race, but she has been very good at home.

“It wasn’t a big field and otherwise you can go somewhere and run in a mares’ maiden hurdle, you get 18 runners and it is a bit of a shock. It was just a nice place to come and they have done such a good job with the ground.

“We had to work on her hurdling early on and she did everything right.”

The Seven Barrows handler added: “She has enough to take on the boys but at the end of the day, I would like to think we will be looking at the Dawn Run at the Festival.”

Luccia was installed as 5-1 favourite with Coral for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Zanza has always given the impression he has had plenty of ability and after franking that view with a runaway win in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase, it was perhaps fitting that impressionist Rory Bremner presented winning connections with their mementos.

The late O’Sullevan, the doyen of commentators, called his last race 25 years ago and would have dug deep into his bag of superlatives as the Philip Hobbs-trained winner made a mockery of his handicap mark, drawing upsides Demachine approaching the penultimate fence and drawing 12 lengths clear under Tom O’Brien.

Hobbs said: “That was really good. He went through a period halfway through the race where he was jumping carefully, then he got better again in the end. He does need things to go his way a bit, but he has fantastic form around here.

“I have no idea what we will do from here. He goes on fast ground, so I was not worried. He is a little bit soft and needs things to go his own way about. Blinkers seem to have galvanised him a bit. He is lower in the handicap than he has been, which has helped.”

Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden completed a double on the day as 20-1 shot Red Risk landed the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle, adding to McFabulous’ victory earlier on the card.

The trainer said: “He was fit, healthy and looked fantastic. He is good fresh this horse, but I didn’t think he’d win like that.

“I don’t think we would be in much of a hurry to run him again. We will best come back after Christmas, and he normally likes the ground a lot slower than that. I am actually surprised, but you like nice surprises when the horse are fit and well.

“The lads might even want to go straight to the Coral Cup or run him really fresh.”

The race was marred by the fatal fall of last season’s Finale Juvenile Hurdle winner Porticello at the final flight.

Amarillo Sky (11-8 favourite) took the closing Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell.