Cruise control: Me Voici and Daryl Jacob win the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Novices" Hurdle at Haydock
Nick Williams has been left with a "tricky" problem after Me Voiciimpressed under Daryl Jacob in the bluesquare.com Victor LudorumJuvenile Novices" Hurdle at Haydock.
Having led at the third-last, the 11-10 favourite made a mistake atthe final flight, but he still strode away to pass the post with ninelengths to spare over Diktalina.
Connections must now decide whether Me Voici is to line up in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Owner Jane Williams, the trainer"s wife, said: "That is tricky, Nick insisted that he should be entered.
"It is such a hard call - I bought him as a yearling in France to be a Gold Cup horse.
"Ifit was up to me, I would call it a day (for this season) now, but if itcame up soft (at Cheltenham) you would have to be tempted."
Souffleur (8-1) claimed a rough renewal of the Joseph Heler Cheese Hurdle.
Peter Bowen"s seven-year-old had been winless since December 2007, but emphatically returned to form under Tom O"Brien.
Fourhorses held a live chance approaching the penultimate flight of theGrade Two test, registered as The Rendlesham Hurdle.
Bouggler and Souffleur stretched clear heading towards the last, but the pair got close on the run-in as the former appeared to lose some degree of momentum.
Bouggler faded from thereon in as Kayf Aramis rallied gamely to finish second, a length and three-quarters adrift of the winner.
"I got to the front a little bit too soon and he hung right," explained O"Brien.
"He veered a little right when he got to the front but he did it well in the end."
Bowen said: "He ran a good race last time, but the trip was too short.
"He"s entered in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and the two-mile-five race (Coral Cup), but I would fancy waiting for Aintree - he likes it around there."
Eyecatcher of the race was Grand National hope Cloudy Lane, who finished fourth on his return to hurdles.
Mick Meagher, racing manager for owner Trevor Hemmings, said: "He"s run a cracking race, it"s nice to see him back in good form.
"The plan now is to go for the Grimthorpe at Doncaster or a race at Kelso on the same day (March 6).
"Then, all being well, we"ll head for the National."
O"Brien picked up a four-day ban (March 6-9) for careless riding.
Donald McCain"s high opinion of Wymott (4-1) was justified when he dominated the Albert Bartlett Novices" Hurdle.
McCain was shocked the Hemmings-owned six-year-old came off second-best to Howard Johnson"s The Knoxs last time but that may prove to be no disgrace.
Jason Maguire took up the running from Adams Island turning into the straight and had the race won well before the last.
However his mount started to idle on the long run-in and Wayward Prince closed to within a length at the line.
McCain said: "He"s always had plenty of ability. It"s more than likely he"ll go to Cheltenham for the Albert Bartlett but I"ll have to speak to Mr Hemmings and Mick Meagher.
"We came here to see if he was good enough and now we know he"s good enough, but I"m not sure if he is man enough yet.
"Obviously, like most of Mr Hemmings" horses, chasing will be his game."
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