Alison Thorpe feels there is still plenty of improvement in Diktalina after she produced an impressive performance to land the Saga Personal Finance Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at Folkestone.

Alison Thorpe’s youngster was no great shakes on the Flat but a fine third on her hurdling debut at Fakenham and a similarly encouraging fourth at Plumpton last month suggested she would fare better in this sphere.

Sent off at 11-4 under Daryl Jacob, Diktalina travelled powerfully into the straight and careered away after the final flight to score by nine lengths without being extended.

‘‘We’re delighted with that as she has settled well, jumped nicely and was quite impressive,’’ said Carmarthenshire- based Thorpe.

‘‘She’s been running in quite good company and it’s nice that maybe now we can think about running her in a good race somewhere later in the season.

‘‘She’s also rated quite low on the Flat and we might even give her a spin somewhere to make the most of her mark.’’ It was also a fine day for Alison Batchelor after the permit holder secured a first winner – just one day after saddling her first runner (Siouxme) at Plumpton on Monday.

Mr Floppy, previously trained by Ferdy Murphy, was ridden patiently by Jacob, who always appeared confident in the Saga Motor Insurance Handicap Chase.

Batchelor’s 15-8 favourite cruised up to join the leaders at the top of the straight and stretched away to score by seven lengths from Wadswick Ben.

Ban Uisce (14-1) had been beaten over a combined 300 lengths on his three previous outings but put those efforts behind him with a comfortable success in the Betfair Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Handicap Hurdle.