BARBURY Castle trainer Alan King was in bullish form after Pain Au Chocolat followed up last month's Plumpton success with a seven-length victory in the Betfred "Supports Jack Berry House" Juvenile Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, with the Triumph Hurdle now on the agenda.

Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson made smooth progress off a dawdling early pace to take it up at the penultimate flight to book his place in the Triumph Hurdle.

He was immediately clipped to 25-1 (from 40s) with William Hill, and King was adamant he will put it up to the principals in six weeks' time.

King said: "I'm most definitely thinking in terms of the Triumph Hurdle. The owners will have a job to try and stopping me running him in the Triumph."

The Barbury Castle handler was also in the money at Wetherby as Ned Stark toughed it out to win the totepool Towton Novices' Chase, with Denis O'Regan on board.

The seven-year-old holds an entry in the RSA Chase at Prestbury Park in March, but connections could also consider handicap options, depending on the assessor's verdict.

King said: "I thought we were in a bit of trouble leaving the back, but he's seen it out really well and I'm delighted with him. It's great to win a Towton again.

"I haven't spoken to any of the guys on track yet, so we'll get him home and see how he is and then make a plan.

"We'll see what the handicapper does. I don't think he can hammer him as he didn't win by far and I think they were all much of a muchness.

"The three-mile handicap (at Cheltenham) might be a possible, but we'll see.

"It's just nice to get this out of the way."