Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon finally notched up his half-century of winners for the National Hunt season when Shantou Magic scored at Southwell, writes Russell Smith.

Will Kennedy made all the running on the 2-7 favourite to beat Northern Executive by an eased-down two and a quarter lengths in a novices’ chase over an extended three mile novices’ chase.

It ended a frustrating few weeks for Longsdon, who had been stuck on the 49-winner mark since Shantou Magic won at Bangor-on-Dee on March 21.

The eight-year-old gelding completed an across-the-card double that day following Kalane’s success in the EBF & TBA Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle Final at Newbury.

She could go now for the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday, May 2.

Her rivals could include the Willie Mullins-trained Annie Power, although both have other options at the meeting.

“Kalane will go to Punchestown, but whether she goes for the Grade 1 or one of the handicaps has not been decided,” said Longsdon.

“She will be entered in handicaps over two and a half miles and three miles.

“She won very nicely at Newbury and I think she had a bit in hand.

“The first part of the race did not pan out for her, but she still came through and was impressive at the finish.

“She was off a light weight, don’t get me wrong, but the way she did it you could be nothing but impressed.

“The hardest part will be having a trouble-free preparation because something normally goes wrong, but, touching wood, everything is going well at the moment.”

There was disappointment for Longsdon on Saturday when Drop Out Joe finished ninth in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

The race was won by the Hilary Parrott-trained Wayward Prince, ridden by Robbie Dunne