Having made great strides in the first half of the jumps season, Harry Whittington’s Sparsholt stables, near Wantage, will be looking to keep up the momentum in 2016.

The 35-year-old handler clocked up his 15th winner from only 48 runners this term when Bigmartre scored at Haydock just before the turn of the year.

That sees him operating at an impressive 31 per cent strike – a figure bettered only by John Ferguson in the list of the top 50 trainers.

Nico de Boinville made all the running on Bigmartre in a novices’ hurdle over an extended mile and seven furlongs with some slick jumps in the straight enabling him to land the spoils by a length and a quarter from Vintage Clouds.

And Whittington said: “I don’t think we’ll aim too high this season as I think he’s going to make a smashing chaser.

“I just wanted to pick up some more experience before I asked him another question.”

Meanwhile, Whittington is eyeing a crack at Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle on February 13 with his French recruit, Affaire D’Honneur.

The five-year-old made a good impression on his British debut when finishing a length second to Zulu Oscar in a handicap hurdle at Kempton over Christmas.

“He’ll come on a bundle for that and we’re looking at the Betfair for him,” said the 35-year-old handler. “He’ll certainly have an entry.”

Whittington also revealed plans for his stable star, Arzal, who is on course for the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on January 30 after finishing a creditable third in the Grade 2 williamhill.com Novices’ Chase on the same Kempton card.

On the Flat, Paul Cole’s Whatcombe yard, near Wantage, signed off 2015 with a winner when Pendo won a mile handicap at Lingfield.

Runner-up in four of his previous five starts, Fergus Sweeney’s mount got his head in front by three-quarters of a length from Diletta Tommasa.