Noel Chance will have the likes of River City and Distant Thunder to run at Cheltenham but is looking to extend his festival season through impressive Newbury winner Signs Of Love.

Punchestown could be on the cards after the 7-4 favourite galloped away with the Highcross Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Kept handy by Richard Johnson, he was left in front with two flights to go and fought off the challenge of Mon Michel by eight lengths.

'He's a nice horse this,' said Chance. 'He has no fancy entries but if he were to win another race, we might consider Punchestown.

'He jumps for fun and Richard said he'd make a nice chaser, perhaps as a four-year-old.'

Tony McCoy was at his best to get Money Order (4-5f) home in the the Arkell's 3B Bitter 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

The pair had combined for a gritty victory over a shorter two-mile trip at the track last month.

But things did not seem to be going to plan turning for home with Super Nick looking to have escaped.

However, Money Order picked up the bridle before the last and took over from Super Nick on the run-in to hold on by a neck.

'Money Order is not the biggest but he stays all day,' said trainer Brendan Powell.

'I'll try to get another run into him, but we'll keep things small again. He's a typical Supreme Leader and will jump a fence one day.'

Jim Old's horses are in decent form and the Barbury Castle trainer collected his fourth winner of the season through two-and-a-half length victor Gala Evening (7-2).

It was a first success for the progressive five-year-old in the DavidParryRacing.com Handicap Hurdle.

He had to be stoked along by Jason Maguire some way out but foiled the brave run of Purple Patch after the last.

'We seem to have got over a virus and they're just coming back,' said the winning trainer.

There was a family success in the Securon Handicap Chase as Charlie Poste confidently rode Magic Sky (12-1), who is owned by his father.

Poste overtook Jacks Craic at the second last and cruised away from his rival to score by 11 lengths, leaving trainer Milton Harris pondering a possible trip to Aintree.

The Arkell's Brewery Novices' Handicap Chase ended up with a cracking finish that went to Gary Moore's New Entic (8-1), ridden by his son Jamie.

Leading two from home, he staved off the sustained challenge of Sha Bihan and Go For One to prevail by a length and three-quarters.

Stuart Morris is one of the most accomplished riders on the point-to-point scene and guided Coolefind home by 11 lengths in the Brian Vine Memorial Hunters' Chase.

A good training performance by Wellingborough-based Bill Warner, it was the nine-year-old's first start in over a year and he smartly dealt with Spring Grove.

'He's had respiratory problems and is not easy to train, but he's won nine from 14 now,' explained Warner.

'I wanted to get a run into him before Cheltenham but I couldn't and he won't go because the entries have closed. There's always next year.'

Nike Walker (4-7f) took the Stan James Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Byron Moorcroft just as easily as when winning at Folkestone on Wednesday.

David Pipe's diminutive colt brushed off Dashing George by seven lengths but is set for a hefty rise in the ratings shortly.

(C) PA Sport