Imperial De Thaix made a winning debut for Martin Pipe in the Faucets for Grohe Avensys Shower Valves Novices' Chase at Chepstow yesterday and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March is likely to prove his target.

The ex-French five-year-old, trained by Guillaume Macaire when successful at the Welsh course last month, was stepping up in trip considerably but that did not stop him romping to an eased-down five lengths success over Major Adventure for new owner Jeff Lammiman.

Pipe said afterwards: "It was a big jump up in distance for him from almost two and half miles to three miles and I suppose we will enter him for the Sun Alliance as he jumped very well there."

Selberry and conditional jockey Alan Day followed up their recent Wincanton success when taking the Faucets for Grohe Euroeco Hospital Fittings Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Zapateado.

Brian Crowley has made a good impression in the saddle since taking the Coral Welsh National on Jocks Cross for boss Venetia Williams last month and the conditional rider kept up the good work aboard Avalon Buck in the Faucets For Grohe Chiara Basin Mixes Novices' Hurdle.