Function Dream put herself in the picture for the Cheltenham Festival with a determined success in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

Mary Reveley, the mare's trainer, has yet to strike gold at the prestigious meeting but her duck could be broken should the Saltburn handler decide to set forth for Prestbury Park with Function Dream.

Cheered on by a huge contingent who journeyed across from Ireland with jubilant owner Tom Walsh, the well-handicapped Function Dream justified 2-1 favouritism with a superb 2-length success over Cenkos with Exit Swinger a further five lengths back in third.

Surrounded by his cheering compatriots, Walsh admitted that the reason he brought the mare over to be trained by Mrs Reveley was that they ''might find a little handicap chase for her''.

Mrs Reveley was recommended by Walsh's cousin, Grand National-winning trainer Ted.

Walsh, who owns the Scart Stud in County Cork and whose wife Noreen bred the mare, said: ''Mrs Reveley is a top trainer and I would trust my life with her.

''We thought we would bring Function Dream over because there are better opportunities in handicap chases over here and we thought we might find a little one for her to win. We've now found five of them.''

On all five occasions, including Wetherby's Castleford Chase over Christmas, Function Dream has been partnered by Tony Ross, who described the mare as ''unbelievably tough''.

''She's brilliant and you can't get to the bottom of her,'' he said.

''I thought we were struggling for a while but the moment we got down the far side and got upsides I knew they couldn't beat her.''

Both Coral and the Tote have Function Dream as low as 8-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival. But Mrs Reveley, who has often struggled for winners at southern racecourses, warned that if the ground was firm then her participation would be in doubt.

''She has every right to go but obviously she wouldn't go on firm ground,'' she said from Newcastle.

''But that ground today looked quite fast and I was really pleased the way she went on it.

''She's a marvellous mare, a dream to train with a super temperament. I haven't done anything special with her - just looked after her the same as all my others.''

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Cenkos, was delighted with the performance of his charge.

''He must be a spring horse. I thought he wanted heavy ground but he can probably go on anything,'' said Sherwood, who also paid tribute to conditional jockey Ron Flavin.

He said: ''He gave it a great ride for a 7lb claimer.''

Tony McCoy, who was third on Exit Swinger, declared: ''He's run a blinder, travelled much better than he did in the Tripleprint and this is clearly his trip.''

Mick Fitzgerald was also pleased with the run of the Nicky Henderson-trained Tiutchev, who finished fourth.

''He carried 11st 10lb in bad ground and apart from a mistake at the water he's jumped well."

McCoy reached the 150-winner mark for the season with a 41-1 double on Iznogoud and Grey Shot.

Iznogoud landed the Grade One Gerrard Tolworth Hurdle to end a lean spell for trainer Martin Pipe at the remarkable odds of 11-1, beating 10-11 favourite St Pirran by five lengths.

Grey Shot, who was returning after a 474-day absence, won the Victor Chandler Online Handicap Chase