Nicky Henderson has taken until the turn of the year to really hit form and the master of Seven Barrows was able to celebrate two more high-quality winners at Lingfield yesterday

Henderson appeared particularly smitten with the debut of Aigle d'Or, who was immaculate in the Play Golf Lingfield Park Novices' Hurdle.

A useful stayer on the Flat in France, the 11 to 10 favourite had been primed to go jumping last season before suffering a hiccup in his preparation.

Tony McCoy still had a tight rein as A French Horse fell at the last and coasted home by 17 lengths from the gradually reforming Wind Instrument.

"He injured a tendon above his off-hock, but is a lovely horse," said Henderson.

"Tony liked him, but said it is difficult to gauge how good he is as he has beaten little."

Cashmans introduced JP McManus' gelding at 12 to 1 for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle while Stan James and Blue Square are bigger at 20s.

Henderson also has a leading fancy for the Supreme at Cheltenham in Khyber Kim but has made no decision about future targets. "It's just nice to have these good novices coming through," he added.

Henderson's Duc De Regniere was just as classy over hurdles and was far too good for his rivals in the lingfieldpark.co.uk Beginners' Chase, although his technique still needs to be refined a little.

Sent off the 2 to 7 favourite, he was smoother than on his chasing debut at Cheltenham but still made a couple of errors with Mick Fitzgerald before pulling well clear in the home straight.

"It was wetter than he would have liked and he's still learning, but we were delighted," said Henderson. "He will be better in a better race, but I'm not sure we will go for a Graded race yet.

"We're not looking at Cheltenham just yet, we'll just go quietly for the moment."

Despite the uncertainty, Duc De Regniere was cut to 12 to 1 from 16s by Blue Square and VC Bet for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Owner David Johnson's decision to send a few horses to champion trainer Paul Nicholls was rewarded by Chapoturgeon (2 to 1), who still gave his supporters a bit of a worry at the last flight of the lingfieldpark.co.uk Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

The grey ducked drastically to the left, moving right across the hurdle and hampering Souriceau before he pulled a length and a half clear. The stewards decided the move had not affected his position.

"The second-last was dolled off and Timmy Murphy just said they moved into the middle of the track and he was spooked by the wing of the last," reported Johnson. "But I'm pleased as he's only a young horse and a chaser in the making."

It was worth braving the gloom for the closing Banqueting At Lingfield Park Novices' Hurdle, which was won by the handsome grey Luxurix (9 to 2).

Steadily progressive on his first two starts, he was the only one who floated over the chopped-up ground and he thrashed the 13 to 8 favourite Bremen by nine lengths.

His prolific owner, Paul Green, made a surprise appearance while trainer Paul Webber said: "We bought him from France a few years ago and he had a few little problems so he's been on Mr Green's farm.

"He does everything so easily at home he might not quite have been as fit as he should have been on his earlier starts.

"I think there's a nice handicap in him, perhaps the Imperial Cup."

Luxorix's rider Dominic Elsworth had also partnered Oliver Sherwood's Ballygalley Bob (8 to 1) in the Lingfield Park For Weddings Handicap Chase.

It showed he was trying fences for the first time since point-to-points as the gelding clouted the 12th and put himself in a very unpromising position.

Peveril Pride was clear at the last and matched at some very short in-running prices but tired dramatically and was caught close home.

McCoy had a double of his own as he steered The Very Man (7 to 1) two lengths clear of the penalty-carrying favourite Ballyfitz in the Hold Your Product Launch At Lingfield Park Handicap Hurdle.

It was another fillip for the returning-to-form Jonjo O'Neill yard.