WARLORD was in destructive mood as he triumphed in the O'Callaghan Hotels Richard Power Novices' Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Racing prominently throughout, Bob Buckler's six-year-old gelding strode clear from the home bend to take the £6,506 prize by an impressive 10 lengths.

Under top jockey Richard Johnson the 3-1 shot beat off Sound Accord and National Trust and left Carl Llewllyn's favourite, Best Actor, more than 18 lengths adrift in fourth place.

Warlord, owned by I Hear Thunder's owner Nick Elliott, has been tagged as a long distance chaser but on this showing he still has plenty to give over timber.

Less than an hour later at Haydock, The Sawyer went in the Grade 2 Brit Insurance Prestige Novices' Hurdle.

He looked impressive as he stalked the leader under Daryl Jacob but with two hurdles left to jump he weakened in the heavy ground.

The Sawyer has been entered for the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

MELPLASH trainer Bob Buckler has entered He's The Boss at Chepstow, Kempton and Exeter this weekend and will wait to see which course will best suit his chaser.

Orlyheart is entered in the Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Exeter on Sunday and Freedom Frix is also likely to make the trip to Devon for the gg.com Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race.