Grey Shot took his first step towards a possible crack at the Champion Hurdle with an impressive winning debut at Taunton yesterday. The classy stayer on the Flat, a winner of the 1996 Goodwood Cup, hardly gave his supporters an anxious moment as he bounded to a 23-length victory in the Somerset County Gazette Novices' Hurdle.

Coral immediately offered 20 to 1 for the Champion Hurdle with William Hill more generous at 25 to 1. But trainer Ian Balding refused to get carried away about the prospects of Grey Shot tackling the premier hurdle.

"I hope in due course he might be Champion Hurdle class but at present it's absolutely potty to say he's been targeted at the race. However, he will be entered," he said.

Sent off a 1 to 3 chance, Grey Shot was always pulling double over his rivals in the hands of Richard Dunwoody.

Paul Holley gave up his remaining rides for the afternoon when being badly bruised after his mount Moonraker's Mirage hit the deck at the first hurdle in the same race. Only three of the 13 runners for the incident-packed Property Gazette Novices' Handicap Chase completed the course with Winnow the main beneficiary from the final fence collapse of clear leader Glendoe.

Torch Vert, due to rise 5lb in the weights at the weekend, lifted the Motoring Gazette Handicap Hurdle with Tony McCoy barely moving a muscle.

The Minder netted his first success for almost two years with a clear-cut victory under Darren Salter in the Postbag Selling Hurdle.