Seven-pound claimer Jordan Nailor grabbed the biggest win of his career when 11/10 favourite Hammersly Lake won the £30,000 David Keith Memorial Veterans’ Chase on a sun-drenched Easter Monday at Fakenham.

When Exitas hit the fence in front of the stands, despite Tabitha Worsley’s brilliant recovery, his chance had gone and that left it clear for Hammersly Lake, trained by Charlie Longsdon, to romp home.

“He’s an amazing horse. He jumped fantastically and that is my best winner and one to remember,” said Nailor.

Brodie Hampson was all smiles after landing the Aldiss Hurdle on Bazarov, returned at 4/1, trained by Archie Watson. Consistent Bazarov was challenged late on by Acertain Circus but that rival was outjumped at the final flight, allowing Bazarov to score.

“I decided to go a good gallop. I knew he would stay and thankfully no one got to him,” said the winning rider.

There was a terrific finish to the Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Handicap Hurdle when Sid Hoodie held on to win from Working Class and Ravenous.

Those three pulled clear and it was left to the Charlie Mann-trained and Harry Bannister-ridden mare to score at 5/1 in front on her local owner, Dominic Christian of Great Witchingham, seeing her race for the first time.

The opener gave jockey Ciaran Gethings the lead in the race to be the course’s top rider this season when he took the novice hurdle on the Stuart Edmunds-trained Red Royalist. The eventual winner and Zoffany Bay led throughout but it was left for 6/4 favourite Red Royalist to hold off the challenge of Sudden Destination, giving Gethings his sixth course winner of the campaign.

Favourite backers would have raised a glass to 18-year-old Charlie Todd after the Ryan Potter-trained Llancillo Lord landed the Hunter Chase for the Robert Hoare Memorial Trophy. Todd was hampered at the open ditch but kept the partnership together and recovered to score as a 1/2 chance should.

Sopat, under Kielan Woods and trained by Phil Middleton, took the bumper in style, racing clear of newcomer Dancing Doris to triumph at 4/1.

The finale was a match for The Queen’s Cup, the Hunter Chase going to outsider Silvergrove, at 100/30, ridden by Alex Chadwick and trained by James Owen, who defeated 1/4 favourite Sir Jack Yeats.