Nicky Richards could barely conceal his delight after The Whisperer got his chasing career off to a perfect start in the toteplacepot Novices' Chase at Newcastle.
Despite a layoff of 402 days due a leg injury, the seven-year-old was ready to strike at the first time of asking and jumped superbly for Rose Davidson on his way to a smart two-length success.
Richards said of the 7-2 winner: "He is a real horse this one and I have loved him since the day I bought him.
"He had a problem with one of his back legs after he ran here in January last year so we have given him plenty of time.
"He was in the SunAlliance but I took him out of that as he is inexperienced. He is up to that level though, and he does everything.
"He'll probably have three or four runs this season to get some mileage on the clock, and he's a fair horse."
Pilca arrived on the scene full of running at the third-last in the totescoop6 Handicap Hurdle and Johnny Farrelly's mount skipped away to register a five-length victory.
The two-mile event appeared wide-open beforehand with the favourite Idarah starting at 6-1 - but the 12-1 winner put in a devastating performance and pulled nicely clear in the closing stages.
Trainer Declan Carroll said: "The handicapper will let us know where we go next!
"He is in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham but I don't think he will get in.
"The Swinton is a race that may suit him, or I might even take him to Ireland during the summer for Galway."
Richards was still grinning from ear to ear after his Viking Rebel landed a punt under Tony Dobbin in the totesport 0800 221 221 Novices' Hurdle.
Having opened at 2-1, the lightly-raced six-year-old was sent off the 11-8 favourite and was left in front at the third-last when the front-running Auroras Encore crashed out.
The Greystoke raider then had to fend off a challenge from Fresh Winter but had his measure up the run-in and pulled away for a length and a half success.
Richards said: "It wasn't a bad sort of a race and I thought they went a good old clip.
"He will make a lovely chaser and we'll keep on educating him and have some fun with him next year.
"I don't think he's quite good enough for Cheltenham but he could go to Aintree for the three-miler."
Racing was delayed by 30 minutes after part of the course was dolled off for safety reasons following an inspection.
When the totecourse to course Novices' Hurdle was eventually run it resulted in a surprise as Riguez Dancer burst the bubbles of Striking Article and Kalahari King.
Leading two out under Dominic Elsworth, Pat Haslam's charge held Kalahari King by a neck to deny Murphy a double.
The first two drew 16 lengths clear of All For The Cause with 11-8 favourite Striking Article only fourth.
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