Teaatral, 10 to 1 favourite with the sponsors for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, confirmed his well-being with a courageous victory in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Kempton yesterday. Merry Masquerade was one and three-quarters behind in second place with Effectual another length and a quarter further away third.

Egerton warned that the six-year-old might not run at Cheltenham at all if the ground dried up. Irbee booked his place in Paul Nicholls's strong team for the Festival with an easy 11-length win victory over Chief's Song in the Emblem Chase.

Pietro Bembo had a short-head success over Golden Goal in the Coral Eurobet Hurdle.