Gary and Josh Moore’s excellent day at Sandown continued when Salver struck in decisive fashion in the Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase.

A four-time winner over hurdles, Salver returned to Sandown for the first time since being denied in the bet365 Select Hurdle in April and was looking to get off the mark over fences having finished a creditable third behind Lulamba at Exeter on his chasing bow.

Four went to post for the Grade 2 prize but it quickly became apparent that this concerned just two as both Laurens Bay, who never really looked to be travelling with much zest, and Quebecois, were struggling to keep tabs on the front-running Doyen Quest when pace lifted turning for home.

Just like he did when beating Quebecois at Exeter last time out, Doyen Quest had put in an assured round of jumping on the front end but when Harry Skelton glanced over his left shoulder for dangers, he would have immediately spotted Salver cruising into contention in his slipstream.

Doyen Quest continued to give bravely out in front, but a confident Caoilin Quinn soon allowed his mount to move on by and with a sizeable leap at the second last, he bounded away from his rival before stretching clear up the Sandown hill to record an effortless twelve-length verdict.

Speaking of the commanding 6/4 winner, who was stepping up to 3 miles for the first time, Gary Moore said: "I didn't think he would stay but fair play to Keith (Graves) who owns him – he wanted to try it. I thought if stays around here, he'll stay anywhere. That is why we rode him like we did by dropping him out the back and taking our time.

"The horse (Doyen Quest) was getting an easy lead and jumping much better than we were but ours warmed up.

"I was looking at two mile, two and a half miles and two miles six races for him but Caoilin has got off him and said he stays all day."

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