Andy Turnell has high hopes Blue Bajan can take high rank over timber after the former smart Flat performer landed a gamble in the totepool Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

The Swindon trainer has every reason to be optimistic after the six-year-old took this highly-competitive race by eight lengths.

Turnell now plans to find out more about Blue Bajan by aiming him at the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.

Available at 10-1 in the morning, Blue Bajan was sent off the 4-1 favourite after being backed off the boards.

Graham Lee, making it three wins from three rides on the horse, got a dream run up the far rail to make his challenge after I'm So Lucky had set out to make all the running.

Leading after the final flight, Blue Bajan made his speed count to storm clear of I'm So Lucky, with Ellerslie Tom a further length and a quarter away in third and Dreamy Gent fourth.

"The ground is the thing with him - he jumps so much better on this ground," said Turnell.

"I had high hopes of him being a good hurdler and I think he could be, though obviously he's got some way to go yet.

"I'll have a word with the owner (John Hollowood) but I think he'll put him away for the summer and concentrate on a jumping campaign. We live in hope.

"He has won in the soft but he's a lot better horse on faster ground.

"He's a got a bit of class and he was only beaten a head by Maraahel in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last year.

"I think he deserves a rest after that. He's been on the go all winter and he's never had a proper summer break.

"I suppose the handicapper will catch hold of him now so he'll probably go for the Boylesports to see if he is Champion-Hurdle class.

"Hopefully I'll get a run into him before that and then give him a winter break when the going gets too soft."

Liberate kept three David Pipe-trained runners at bay to win a thrilling race for the toteplacepot Long Distance Handicap Hurdle.

Philip Hobbs' runner was never far off the pace in the three-mile contest and took closer order in the straight as Richard Johnson asked him for an effort.

He had to pull out all the stops, however, to overhaul the pacesetting Very Cool, who led the Pipe charge.

Liberate (10-1) found extra on the run-in to win by a half a length, with the runner-up's stable companions Buena Vista and Openditch just behind.

Hobbs said: "He's very game. We had a very frustrating season with him.

"He was second in the Triumph Hurdle the previous year and we were struggling with him to be competitive off a high handicap mark.

"We had him ready for the Cheltenham Festival but we didn't run him because of soft ground. He ran well at Cheltenham recently and that was his first run for four months.

"I think he'll go for the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting, the handicap over two an a half miles. He's rated 87 on the Flat so that might be quite attractive.

"There will be no hurdle race for him now and he wants fast ground."

Oscar Bay (5-1) made a pleasing debut over fences when giving Jimmy Frost his first winner on the track as a trainer in the toteexacta Beginners' Chase.

Seamus Durack brought the six-year-old gelding to overhaul That's Rhythm at the last and win by two and a quarter lengths.

"Seamus said he jumped like a handicapper. When he steps up to three miles the pace will suit him better," said Frost.

"I'll give him a holiday now but I thought I'd run him in a chase first.

"He had some good form over hurdles and he's still learning. He'll come back over three miles next winter as a novice."

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