Sussex trainer Gary Moore, without a winner over jumps for more than two months, roared back with a vengeance at Plumpton yesterday by saddling a 251-1 treble.
The Brighton-based handler clicked with Gin Palace and Guru, part of a 13-1 three-timer for jockey Norman Williamson, and rounded off the meeting with Mixed Marriage at 25-1.
Gin Palace provided Moore's first success over jumps in 2003 when easily landing the odds in the first division of the Stuart Oliver Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
Moore, who had flown back to Britain at midday from a visit to Dubai, where his eldest son Ryan is on a working holiday, had last tasted success in December when Tikram obliged at Fontwell.
He said: "We've had a fair few hit the crossbar. Tikram was third in the Tote Gold Trophy but they haven't been winning. It's a good job I've had a few winners on the Flat otherwise I'd be in the papers as a 'cold' trainer."
Gin Palace had finished sixth to Non So in the Lanzarote Hurdle last month and Moore feels the grey gelding is open to further improvement. A tilt at a class C novices handicap hurdle at Chepstow on March 8 is being contemplated.
"That was a nice confidence-booster. He had the race set up for him as he needs a truly-run race," said Moore.
"He'll probably go to Chepstow as long as the ground isn't too tacky."
Moore returned to the winner's circle later when Guru responded to Williamson's urgings to take the Tote Credit Club Handicap Hurdle by a length-and-a-quarter from Dick Turpin.
Mixed Marriage completed a fine day for the trainer when landing the second division of the Stuart Oliver Maiden Hurdle under Mattie Batchelor.
The five-year-old, fit from but unsuccessful on the all-weather, edged out Sossus Vlei by a neck with Martin Pipe's long odds-on Iberus - who had finished third in the Derby Italiano two years ago - a length-and-a-half back in third after finding nothing on the run-in.
The principals had been forced to edge left on the flat to negotiate stricken Distingo, who was being attended to after breaking down on the first circuit.
River Bug, twice denied by the weather from running in big-race targets this year, gained compensation when enjoying a runaway success in the British Equestrian Insurance Brokers Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase.
The nine-year-old, thwarted by the freeze when fancied by Sussex trainer Jamie Poulton to run well in the Eider Chase at Newcastle, was ridden by Irishman Robert Quinn, 20, who was having his first ride in Britain.
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