Cumbrian Challenge played the lead role in a real treat for jumping aficionados at Wetherby yesterday. The horse, labelled a monkey by his connections, registered his sixth victory at the course with a plucky effort in the Mitsubishi Mobile Phones Chase. Approaching the final fence, the two mile-limited handicap boiled down to a three-cornered fight between Cumbrian Challenge, Certainly Strong and Native Mission.

Front-runner Certainly Strong, the 13-8 favourite, still held a narrow advantage halfway up the run-in. But Cumbrian Challenge responded well to the urgings of Russ Garritty to lead near the line and pip Certainly Strong by a neck. Native Mission was a further three-parts of a length away.

Peter Easterby, whose son Tim trains Cumbrian Challenge, said: "I thought he (Garritty) was going to go too soon because the horse is a bit of a monkey. But he got it just right.

"Cumbrian Challenge has done us proud as he's only just over 15 hands and can barely see over the tops of the fences."

Cumbrian Challenge, who has now won almost £80,000 in prize money, may be back at Wetherby soon. He is a possible for the Supermaster Handicap Chase on Boxing Day.

Punters who have made Easterby's Simply Dashing favourite for the First National Bank Chase at Ascot on Saturday will be heartened by the form of the stable.

Easterby also struck with Lord Discord in the Henderson Insurance Brokers Ltd Juvenile Novices' Hurdle and was unlucky not to collect the opener with Revolt.

Lord Discord, ridden by Robert Thornton, was kept up to his work on the run-in to hold off Broctune Line by one and three-quarter lengths.

He was appearing to improve markedly on his debut over timber - at the same course at the beginning of the month - when beaten 36 lengths.

But his trainer said: "The form of that race has worked out well and I thought he ran a good race first time out."

Revolt looked the likely winner when moving smoothly into a challenging position in the Malton Racing Association Novices' Hurdle.

But he lost any chance of victory when blundering badly at the second last, though he did recover well to take third.

Victory went to 25-1 shot Caulker who gamely repelled the challenge of The Butterwick Kid by a head.

Trainer David Nicholson, who is still suffering from flu, narrowly missed out with Certainly Strong, but had earlier struck with Forest Ivory.

Adrian Maguire was back in the saddle after missing part of Cheltenham on Sunday and all of yesterday because of flu.

The jockey was given an armchair ride as Forest Ivory jumped fluently and pulled clear in the straight to defeat Maybe O'Grady by 17 lengths.

Forest Ivory had fallen on his chasing debut at Chepstow earlier in the month.

Nicholson's assistant Alan King said: "We probably threw him in at the deep end at Chepstow but he's been fine at home since then. This win will have helped to boost his confidence."