Silver service for Saints chairman

Having finished second to Dream Alliance in the Welsh National, the grey, owned by St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown, was sent off a 7-1 chance in the Blue Square Gold Cup under Peter Buchanan.

David Pipe's veteran Peter Marsh winner Our Vic set a strong enough gallop and had seen off most of his rivals inside the final circuit. But once the petrol gauge started flashing, it was Silver By Nature who powered clear up the home straight to win by 15 lengths.

Welsh National third Le Beau Bai filled the same spot as the 5-1 favourite.

"His owner Geoff Brown also bred him and he is not keen on the Aintree National, but he would love to win the Scottish National – and I would love to win it for him – but the horse does need soft ground," said Russell.

"When you have a good horse it is easy to make plans for it because there are only a few races you can run them in.

"I think he has still got a bit of improvement in him."

The rest of the card was stacked with potential Cheltenham Festival clues, headed by Nick Williams' Me Voici, who boosted his big reputation in the bluesquare.com Victor Ludorum Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Sent off the 11-10 favourite to oblige under Daryl Jacob, he had little trouble in seeing off Diktalina by nine lengths.

However, a tilt at the Triumph has still not been confirmed.

Owner Jane Williams, the trainer's wife, said: "It is such a hard call – I bought him as a yearling in France to be a Gold Cup horse.

"If it was up to me, I would call it a day (for this season] now, but if it came up soft (at Cheltenham] you would have to be tempted."

Donald McCain already has one live novice hurdler for the Festival in Peddlers Cross and Wymott joined the list with a gritty display in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

He was subsequently cut to 25-1 from 40s by Blue Square for the race which carries the same name.

McCain said: "He's always had plenty of ability."