IAN Williams secured a big Saturday double at Cheltenham's November Meeting.

The Alvechurch-based trainer saddled First Assignment and Speedo Boy to victory last weekend.

First Assignment justified 6/4 favouritism with a clinical victory in the Listed Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle over three miles.

Ridden by Tom O'Brien, the five-year-old son of Vinnie Roe pulled clear of his rivals in the home straight and sealed victory with a smart leap at the last to score by nine lengths.

Williams said: "It was a great performance by First Assignment to win a handicap round Cheltenham like that.

"He stepped up on his last run and we were very impressed with him today. First Assignment put the race to bed early today.

"He travelled really well. Last year he was a weak horse, but he has strengthened up a bit this year.

"He had been quiet in training this week and I was slightly anxious about running him, but he has done his job well and the world's his oyster.

"We backed off him towards the end of the week which probably helped.

"First Assignment is entered at Haydock next week, but he will be penalised in that race.

"He isn't a horse who is that robust, so we'll take him back before making a decision.

"We'll see how he comes out of this race before making other plans.

"First Assignment is very upwardly mobile and the step up in trip has helped. He is improving physically and hopefully there is more to come."

Speedo Boy, a 4/1 joint-favourite, then landed the BetVictor Intermediate Handicap Hurdle with a burst of speed up the Cheltenham hill that carried him a length clear of second-placed Mahlervous.

The win gave Williams an 11.5/1 double for the day after First Assignment's victory in the previous race.

Speedo Boy, who was ridden by Tom O'Brien, is a useful dual-purpose performer and won a valuable handicap on the flat at Ascot in July.

"He's had a tough enough season on the flat - we've had a couple of horses back from running on the flat this summer and they haven't done as well as I would have expected, so it's nice to see him take a step in the right direction. Something like the Lanzarote Hurdle might be a target, but I think he'd be better on a flat track with a little bit more pace than was shown today."