Banbury trainer Paul Webber was glowing in his praise of Devon Drum after the gelding made a winning debut at Newbury on Saturday.

The four-year-old quickened up in good style for Dominic Elsworth to beat Polly Peachum by four and a half lengths in a junior bumper.

And Mollington handler Webber compared him favourably with two of his former charges who finished second in Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper “We have always thought he was a nicer horse than De Soto and Pressgang,” he said.

“He might go to Aintree as he has lots of speed.”