THE colours of racehorse owner Sue Magnier, more familiar in the winner’s enclosure after Classics on the Flat, were to the fore on the opening day of Cheltenham’s International meeting when Call To Order won the Citipost Handicap Hurdle.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time, the locally trained 11-2 shot from the Jonjo O’Neill yard, proved three and three-quarter lengths too strong for For Good Measure.

Successful jockey was Aidan Coleman went on to complete a double aboard Pingshou in the closing novices’ hurdle.

Pingshou also made it two winners on the card for in-form trainer Colin Tizzard who had scored earlier with Hennessy Gold Cup disappointment Theatre Guide in the Unicoin Group Handicap Chase.

Theatre Guide got up in the last strides to pip Perfect Candidate, trained at Naunton by Fergal O’Brien, by a nose.

There was further misery for connections as Conor Shoemark, the rider of Perfect Candidate, was hit with a 15-day suspension by the stewards for his use of the whip.

Cantlow (13-8 favourite) underlined Irish trainer Enda Bolger’s skill at training horses for the unique demands of the track’s cross country course when racing to an authoritative triumph in the Glenfarclas Chase.

The meeting opened with a win for Gloucestershire when Singlefarmpayment (9-2), based in the Slad yard of Tom George and ridden by Adrian Heskin, earned introductory quotes for the RSA Chase in March after gaining his first win over fences in the Jockey Club Ownership Syndicate Novices' Chase.

Blaklion had won the same race 12 months ago before going on to triumph in the RSA Chase at the Festival.

Ryan Hatch misses the plum ride on The New One in the StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday after being hurt in a fall there on Friday.

Champion jockey Richard Johnson now takes the mount on the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding, who is seeking a hat-trick of wins in the Grade Two contest.

Hatch was taken to hospital for assessment on a possible sternum injury following a tumble from Cogry in the Unicoin Group Handicap Chase.

He was also due to have ridden The New One in his chase debut at Exeter in the week, only for the meeting to be abandoned, after which trainer Twiston-Davies decided to postpone his switch to fences.