THE outstanding Sam Twiston-Davies — the Newton Abbot course's leading jockey — once again illustrated his potential with a stylish win aboard Moulin De La Croix in the 2m5f handicap chase yesterday.

The eight-year-old jumped the last well and won by a comfortable two-and-three-quarter-length margin during the last meeting of the season.

The course was rain-soaked on the day and the going changed from soft to heavy, but those who braved the downpours were treated to a parade by the South West Racing Club's horse of the year, Big Bucks, who is being lined up for a third Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring.

Twiston-Davies' father Nigel had been hopeful of saddling a double, but had earlier seen Caheerloch beaten in the long distance handicap hurdle.

The Pat Rodford-trained Cashel Blue, ridden by Keiran Burke, made virtually all the running to win easily on his second start for the Somerset-based trainer.

Felix de Giels is another stylish jockey and he did his credentials no harm when riding a perfectly-timed race on Kijivu to win the 2m1f handicap hurdle.

Rudanphast was the 15/8 favourite to land the opening novices' hurdle on his first effort over jumps and, despite taking the obstacles carefully, he won very comfortably.

Chestnut Ben was the 20/1 winner of the novices' handicap hurdle and, although tired, he pulled out all the stops to hold on for the David Bass-Gary Brown team.

January appeared to have the extended two-mile handicap chase in the bag, with Tony McCoy sitting comfortably on the seven-year-old turning into the back straight. His backers were counting their money until In The Zone got up in the dying strides to win by a narrow margin.

Results, 2.30: 1 Rudanphast (R Johnson) 15-8F, 2 Red Current (T Scudamore) 9-1, 3 Navajo Nation (David Bass) 4-1, 10 ran

3.30: 1 Cashel Blue (K Burke) 8-1, 2 Caheerloch (S Twiston-Davies) 9-4F, 3 Converti (S Clements) 14-1, 8 ran

4.00: 1 Moulin De La Croix (S Twiston-Davies) 8-1, 2 Sporting Rebel (Hadden Frost) 11-1, 3 Some Craic (R Johnson) 20-1, 8 ran

4.30: 1 Kijivu (Felix de Giles) 3-1, 2 Olivino (Miss Isabel Tompsett) 7-2, 3 Nothing Is Forever (D Jacob) 9-4F, 5 ran

5.00: 1 In The Zone (R P McLernon) 7-2, 2 January (A P McCoy) 11-8F, 3 Nesnaas (T Scudamore) 4-1, 5 ran

5.30: 1 Am I Blue (R Johnson) 5-6F, 2 You Can Of Course (DC Costello) 9-1, 3 Royial (Jimmy Derham) 7-2, 6 ran