BETTER Days Ahead remains on course for a clash with Ballyburn and Dancing City at the Cheltenham Festival after doing just enough to fend off stablemate Stellar Story in the Grade 2 William Hill Novice Chase (registered as the Ten Up).

Despite there being just a five-runner field, which was reduced to four when Chosen Witness exited at the fourth last, the race still delivered a late scare for backers of the 1/2 winning favourite as last season’s fast-finishing Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner began to kick into top gear close home.