CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon praised jockey Richard Johnson after Killala Quay recorded a second Grade 2 success with victory in the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

The nine-year-old tested the champion-elect’s skills by repeatedly jumping left at the head of affairs in Saturday’s extended two-and-a-half-mile contest.

But, after Mon Successeur was fatally injured in a fall four from home and fellow market leader The Saint James crashed out at the next, Johnson conjured a great leap out of Killala Quay at the last fence to hold off Twelve Roses by three and a quarter lengths.

It was the rider’s 202nd winner of the campaign, and Longsdon said: “He is a bit of a legend.

“If you take AP (McCoy) away from the scene he’ll go down in history as the best jump jockey there has ever been.”

Killala Quay was adding to his Grade 2 success in Sandown’s Winter Novices’ Hurdle of 2013, and Longsdon added: “He had a lot of problems last year, but his form of two years ago in the Neptune was as strong as you can get.

“He came here fresh and it looked a weaker Pendil than normal with it only being two and a half weeks to Cheltenham.

“Dickie said he was flat out and the ground was a bit slow for him - that is why he jumped left.”

Longsdon and Johnson teamed up again 24 hours later at Fontwell to strike with Wells De Lune, who made all the running to romp home by 21 lengths in a handicap hurdle over an extended two miles and a furlong.

The master of Hull Farm stables had enjoyed success earlier in the week with Snow Leopardess, who made a winning debut in a National Hunt Flat Race at Doncaster, with Aidan Coleman on board.

On the Flat, Chastleton trainer John Gallagher got off the mark for 2016 when 16-1 shot Heartsong held on to beat Invade by a short head in a six-furlong fillies’ handicap at Lingfield under Michael JM Murphy.