Cheltenham report: The Market Man put in a fine performance under Marcus Foley to land the feature Thwaites Smooth Beer Handicap Hurdle on the first day of Cheltenham's new season yesterday.

Nicky Henderson's five-year-old was sent off the 9 to 2 joint-favourite and jumped to the front two flights from home. And despite Tony McCoy driving runner-up Fire Dragon with all his might, Henderson's charge held on by a length and a quarter, with Goblet Of Fire staying on well for third.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to winning owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: "We came here with a view to taking him out of the race but it is lovely, good ground, which we have always thought he wanted.

"The plan had been to go chasing with him but I will talk to Nicky and Sir Robert and maybe have a rethink.

"There is a race on the Sunday of the Paddy Power meeting here in two weeks' time which could be within his capabilities."

Ostfanni made it four on the bounce when denying favourite backers in the Waterlaw Property Developers Novices' Hurdle. The Martin Todhunter-trained 5 to 1 chance stayed on up the hill to collar the front-running market leader Darasim after the final flight and score by two and half lengths.

Killone Moonlight was four lengths back in third.

Graham Lee, who partnered the in-form winner, said: "I wasn't confident I was going to catch Darasim until approaching the last and only then I thought I might nick it.

"My mare is tough despite not being very big. The biggest part of her is that she tries and she stayed all the way to the line."

Racegoers were almost treated to a repeat in the Cheltenham.co.uk Novices' Chase when Flying Spirit (14 to 1) looked like he might be swallowed up by Bold Bishop after the last.

But the former battled bravely to hold on by a length and a half, with Le Volfoni plugging on for third a further five lengths away.

Today's scheduled meeting at Nottingham was abandoned yesterday due to false ground in places.