Oran Flyer on song at sun-soaked Warwick

After having to abandon the scheduled flat card due to waterlogging, clerk of the course Sulekha Varma got the jumps track, last used in March, back into shape in just two days. She was rewarded for her endeavours with competitive racing and perfect ground.

“Massive thanks to all the trainers, jockeys, owners and officials who made tonight’s switch possible,” tweeted Varma at the end of racing.

“Also, well done to the Warwick groundstaff who played a blinder to get things together with help from Cheltenham and Huntingdon.”

Ten set out in the opening Alison Pitt Celebration Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles and punters got off to a good start as 10-3 favourite Oran Flyer comfortably beat Willard and Guns Of Love.

Taken the shortest way round on the inside by Paul Maloney, Oran Flyer jumped into the lead at the second last flight and ran on well to record his first win for more than six years.

Westcountry-based jockey Nick Scholfield had a good season in 2011/12, chalking up 48 winners, including a Cheltenham Festival success aboard Hunt Ball.

He started the new season where he left off, winning on Pericoloso on the opening day, and doubled his tally here when making all the running aboard Glen Countess in the PSA Peugeot Mares’ “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle for trainer Brendan Powell.

There was a competitive looking field for the Holmwood Leasing Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs but, after taking up the running after the third-last flight, Western King and Gavin Sheehan saw out the trip well to deny the favourite Royal Riviera and early leader Azulada Bay.

Sheehan doubled up in the following Boswell & Co (Steels) Novices’ Handicap Hurdle when, after being towards the rear early on, Who Owns Me put 13 lengths between himself and Mudita Moment, with Drom another 42 lengths back in third.

Grand National winning trainer Donald McCain had entered two in the big race, the class 3 BAM Construction Handicap Hurdle, but relied on top-weight Charminster, who was returning to the smaller obstacles after contesting novice chases.

His stable is in cracking form under both codes, having sent out the first two in Wednesday’s Chester Cup on the flat, and taking the valuable Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park in the afternoon.

Charminster made all the running in the hands of stable jockey Jason Maguire to score by just under three lengths from Dormouse, with Duaiseoir the same distance away in third.

In the concluding National Hunt Flat Race, Nicky Henderson, who boasts a 30 per cent strike rate at the track, saddled Polly Peachum, who had finished runner-up to a useful sort in Devon Drum on her debut at Newbury in March.

Sent off the 4-6 favourite, Polly Peachum put that experience to good use, getting first run on Mischievous Milly to win with a bit in hand.

Point-to-point winner Sapphire Moon was seven lengths back in third place.