WHAT could prove a significant piece in Tony McCoy’s John Smith’s Grand National jigsaw emerged at Cheltenham as the champion jockey piloted Can’t Buy Time to success in the victorchandler.

com Handicap Chase.

The National is one of the few major prizes to have eluded McCoy, but following Can’t Buy Time’s two-and-a-quarter- length victory over Private Be the eight-year-old emerged as a possible partner for the rider at Aintree in April.

The gelding is owned by JP McManus, who retains McCoy and on whose Clan Royal McCoy was carried out at Becher’s second time around in 2005 when looking to be travelling supremely well.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: ‘‘He fell in the National last year after coming here for the four-miler, but I’d hope he could have another crack at it.

‘‘I thought he might find the ground a bit sticky but coming back in trip has helped.

He’s never run over this trip, but AP said he travelled well.’’ O’Neill will most likely give Can’t Buy Time his National prep in a race at the Cheltenham Festival, and added: ‘‘There are a few races at the Festival which would give us three weeks until Aintree.’’ Victor Chandler gave Can’t Buy Time an opening quote of 25-1 for the National, while Paddy Power introduced him into their National list at 33s.

The local handler was one trainer to show his delight that the meeting went ahead following three inspections.

O’Neill added: ‘‘I walked it and it was perfectly raceable.

You could get your stick in about six inches and I was surprised there was another inspection.

But when one trainer suddenly decides to take his out you can become a bit jittery, and that’s probably what happened.’’ Nicky Henderson took Punchestowns out of the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase but was on the mark with his other three runners as Radium, Tetlami and Sentry Duty completed a near 75-1 treble under Barry Geraghty.

The latter allowed Katchit and Mr Thriller to trade blows at the head of affairs, after which the 9-2 chance capitalised on their sparring match to take the scalp of Freedom Hurdle with consummate ease.

William Hill offered him at 14-1 for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but Henderson is a bit guarded as to the stamina capabilities of his troubled eight-year-old.

The trainer said: ‘‘Barry wants to bring him back to two miles. Where we go we’ll have to think, but we really ought to try it and we may run him in the Cleeve Hurdle at the end of the month.’’ Geraghty was just as confident in the ride he gave Tetlami to land the EBF ‘‘High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire’s’’ ’Junior’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

He always had the 4-1 favourite in the first four and after easing him to the front at the furlong pole, sent him bounding away for a clear-cut success.

Radium got the ball rolling with a clear-cut victory as the 7-4 favourite in the Cheltenham And Three Counties Race Club ‘‘National Hunt’’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

With Punchestowns out of the way, together with Bensalem and Knockara Beau, the Dipper Novices’ Chase ended up being a match between Seven Is My Number and Pigeon Island.

Timmy Murphy was in control turning for home on 4-9 chance Seven Is My Number and the combination were always holding their rival up the hill.

The jockey said: ‘‘We were supposed to go upsides but it didn’t work out that way. It was a farce of a race really.’’ Victor Chandler cut Seven Is My Number to 16-1 from 20s for the RSA Chase, and trainer David Pipe said: ‘‘I didn’t have an issue running him and he was suited by the better ground.’’ Wolf Moon (100-30) proved one of the most popular winners of the day when taking the skybet.com Handicap Hurdle by a length and a quarter from Balthazar King for locally- based Martin Keighley and jockey Wayne Hutchinson.

Keighley said: ‘‘He’s won here twice now and was unlucky the previous time as he made a crucial mistake coming down the hill.

‘‘What he’s doing is a massive bonus because we’ve schooled him over fences and he’s fantastic at it.

‘‘The plan would be to run him in a qualifier and then go for the Pertemps Final.”