On a day when long-distance travellers held sway at Carlisle, it was Brampton trainer Maurice Barnes who claimed bragging rights when landing the richest race on the card with old-timer Carrigdhoun.

An incident-packed Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap Chase over an extended three miles first saw hot favourite Beg To Differ break down fatally at the midway point and was then at the mercy of the Nicky Richards-trained Cultram Abbey, an eight-length leader as the final fence beckoned.

But when he and jockey Ryan Day parted company in spectacular fashion, 12-year-old grey Carrighdoun still had work to do to overhaul the new leader Blakemount.

Dour stayer that he is Carrigdhoun, the outsider of six at 12/1, made it a third course win in four months with a determined challenge up the inside rail, leaving a smiling owner/trainer Barnes to say: "He's a grand servant and that's £28,000 he's won this season."

Barnes, of course, won the 1979 Grand National on Rubstic and it had been plain sailing in the opening novice hurdle for long odds-on favourite Catamaran Du Seuil, sent north by Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland.

This one was confidently ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, whose only mount of the day this was.

Sent off at the front of the pack, the French-bred five-year-old never saw another horse and cruised in by a long-looking 23 lengths.

Trainer's assistant Micky Harris said: "He's much loved in the yard and there was some concern with his performance at Wetherby last time, only for us to discover that it was down to an increased heart-rate.

"He's fine now and he holds an entry at the Cheltenham Festival. He's a really typical French-bred."

Twiston-Davies reported the course "in really great nick".

Back in the 1990s, Nigel Hawke rode Seagram to victory in the Grand National.

Nowadays he trains at Tiverton in Devon - a 650-mile round trip and seven-hour journey to Carlisle - and he sent up Lord Ballam to pull off a thrilling last-stride success in the 2m 1f handicap hurdle.

He was to make it a 44/1 double with Midnight Request in the 3m 1f handicap hurdle, sparking a revival in a horse that hadn't won for two years.

Explaining his long-haul venture, Hawke said:"It's getting harder and harder to saddle a winner where we are.

"You look at any card at Wincanton or Taunton, or Exeter and they're all being contested by the big battalions.

"I'd rather come here. At least you've got a fighting chance.

"Lord Ballam is equally adept over hurdles and fences and there's a good chance that his next outing will be at Carlisle."

Distance is certainly no barrier in the never-ending winner quest and it was the turn of Hereford-based Venetia Williams in the 2m 4f handicap chase.

An old maxim in racing is that when the money goes down on a Williams runner it's wise to take the hint and her well-backed favourite Kap Jazz provided a first-ever Carlisle winner for 3lb claiming rider Charlie Deutsch.

He reported of the 10-length winner: "He jumped ever so well and he should go on and win a few more."

Williams' near neighbour Tom Symonds kept the away-day theme going in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle when saddling recent Leicester winner Political Quiz for a convincing success.

While hot favourite Little Bruce struggled to make any kind of impact in the five-runner affair, James Davies was enjoying something of an armchair ride at a course where he last had a winner some 10 years ago.

Symonds said: "He did a sparkling bit of work last Friday so there was a bit of stable confidence behind him."

The finale, an NH Flat event, saw Richard Fahey's Arakhan step up considerably on his previous efforts under an inspired ride from Brian Hughes for a hard-fought 13/2 success.