TOI TAKES AIM AT FESTIVAL

IMPOSE TOI made light of a step up in class to deny defending champion Strong Leader in Newbury's Coral Long Distance Hurdle - and lay down a claim for Cheltenham Festival honours.

- by DAVID YATES

Impose Toi is also as short as 8-1 in a market dominated by Irish-trained horses - and the Seven Barrows trainer observed: “We are in the top league of the home defenders.

"It is an open division one that chops and changes every season - but we got out of handicap company and are well out of it."

Wendigo continued trainer Jamie Snowden's hot streak with a tenacious win in the Grade Two Coral John Francome Novices' Chase.