Plan A comes together for Elliott on first day at Perth

Plan A, fourth when sent off favourite for the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival, provided Gordon Elliott with his customary winner at Perth's season-opening two-day meeting in the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Hurdle.

Elliott had been frustrated with his earlier runners on the card but Tony McCoy guided the 5-6 favourite to a three-quarter-length victory over Exotic Man, although, truth be told, there did not appear to be much left.

Owner Liam Mulryan's silks had been carried to victory 24 hours earlier in the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap at Fairyhouse.

Elliott went on to double up in the finale, the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle, when Oscar's Ballad (7-4 favourite) was guided to victory by Jamie Codd in the colours made famous by Imperial Commander.

"It was good to see Plan A get his head in front but he was entitled to win really," said Elliott.

"He's had a long old season so he'll have a break now. The other lad did well to survive a mistake. Jamie gave him a great ride.

"I've got nine runners over the next two days so, hopefully, we'll have a couple more winners."

Howard Johnson's Nine Stories (5-4 favourite) rallied late to beat Elliott's Wikaala in the Aberdeen Asset Management Intermediate Chase.

McCoy appeared to have the race in safe-keeping but his mount was running on empty after the last and Wilson Renwick galvanised Nine Stories to win by three and a half lengths.

Today, Door Boy looks to be returning to form and he is the choice in the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Chase, the main event on another quality day of action.

The eight-year-old won a couple of novice chases last term but paid the price in shooting up the handicaps and struggled to really compete.

However, dropped a total of 10lb, he put in an improved display when third in a valuable event at Ayr earlier this month, only giving best between the last two obstacles.

The handicapper has eased him a further 1lb since then and Door Boy could be the type to thrive on this better ground.

At Bath, Opera Dancer signed off with a win late last year and can pick up where she left off in the Granville Classified Stakes.

The three-year-old hails from a fine family, with Grey Shot and Opera Cape among her half-siblings, and certainly has some of the same gutsy traits.

Out of luck in four maiden starts, she then found Classic hope Wootton Bassett too good when well down the field in a Doncaster sales event.A drop in company on the Wolverhampton all-weather yielded a narrow success last October and, competing off her lowest rating of 75, she must be worth a shot.

Volcanic Dust earned her winter off after a busy juvenile campaign and can return suitably refreshed for the Pulteney Fillies' Handicap.