Hester Flemen gave a bold front-running display when making a winning debut over fences in the Come Racing New Year's Day Beginners' Chase at Catterick.
Hester Flemen gave a bold front-running display when making a winning debut over fences in the Come Racing New Year's Day Beginners' Chase at Catterick.
The seven-year-old mare, having her first start since being moved by owners Paul and Clare Rooney to Nicky Richards' yard from Donald McCain, overcame a near-year-long absence in highly promising style.
Hester Flemen (11-2) jumped from fence to fence in the experienced hands of weighing-room stalwart Brian Harding and went on to score by six lengths from Racing Europe.
"She's done everything nicely since we've had her so it's onwards and upwards with her," said the Greystoke trainer.
"She's quite an exciting mare and we'll try and make a bit of a plan.
"If you've got a nice horse you want to get them educated for the spring for when the better races come. It's not easy to place them in the right races.
"We can either take on the geldings again or look at the mares' only races. I haven't a clue yet. We were concentrating on getting her started and let her have a nice experience."
The Paul Nicholls-trained Warriors Tale was sent off 10-11 favourite but was well beaten when pulled up before the final fence.
There was still plenty for the McCain family to celebrate as the trainer's daughter, Abbie, enjoyed her first career success in only her second race under Rules when romping home on Danceintothelight (11-8 favourite) in the racinguk.com Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.
The 16-year-old made most of the running to win unchallenged by 27 lengths on the grey, owned by her mother Sian.
"It was amazing. He just jumped so well and travelled like a dream. He seemed to really enjoy it and was pinging his hurdles," she told Racing UK.
"I'm hoping to point-to-point through the winter and ride in amateur races as I've got another year in school then I'm staying on to do A-levels.
"I'll just ride when I can."
Trainer John Ferguson and jockey Aidan Coleman collected a short-priced double courtesy of Berland and High Bridge.
Berland (11-10 favourite) made a stylish jumps debut in the Book Now For 28th December Juvenile Hurdle.
Twice a winner on the Flat including on this course, when trained by Michael Bell, the three-year-old had too much class for the opposition and won cosily by a length from Miss Ranger.
High Bridge (10-11 favourite) was an impressive 13-length winner of the catterickbridge.co.uk Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race as he supplemented a Huntingdon bumper success.
Evan Williams' Poulanassy (9-2) rallied determinedly for Adam Wedge to overhaul well-backed 5-6 shot Captain Bocelli on the run-in to take the Go Racing In Yorkshire Winter Festival Novices' Hurdle by a length and a quarter.
Star Presenter (13-2), trained by Richard Drake, jumped ahead of long-time leader Mandy's Boy with a great leap at the second-last under Jonathan England on the way to sealing victory in the Buy Your 2016 Annual Badge Today Handicap Chase.
The Dianne Sayer-trained Turtle Cask (3-1) ran his rivals ragged when making all of the running under Brian Hughes to score by 13 lengths from Blake Dean in the Racing UK Profits Returned To Racing Handicap Hurdle.