CHARLIE Case could hardly contain his excitement after claiming his first victory on Breaking The Bank in the Richardsons Kimble Club Members Race for Novice Riders on Saturday.

The 17-year-old was left clear aboard the gelding, trained by his mother, Sarah, at Edgcote, near Banbury, and owned by his father, Ben, when odds-on favourite Vesperal Dream unseated Izzie Marshall seven fences out.

The A-level student at Warwick School said: “It’s amazing. I didn’t get a great start, but after that he gave me a dream ride. I’m delighted.”

Marshall was a late substitute for Victoria Pendleton, with Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill reporting the dual Olympic cycling champion decided to delay her return to race-riding as she was feeling rusty due to a combination of her ankle injury and TV and business commitments.

Hill still landed a double, though, with Changeofluck in the Restricted and Broken Eagle in the Men’s Open.

The trainer’s son, Joe, rode both, as Changeofluck beat Ballyfore Cross by an eased-down three lengths.

Hill owns the nine-year-old with Wendover neighbours Diana Clark and Heather Munn, who continues to co-ordinate secretarial duties at the meeting, and she said: “I’m part of the furniture here and it’s very exciting.”

Changeofluck’s target this term could be the series final at Stratford on June 9, with Hill saying: “He has taken to this job well and Stratford would suit him over two miles and six furlongs.”

Broken Eagle put his fall at Bechers in the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree behind him with a terrific round of jumping – apart from a minor blemish at the last – to cruise home by a distance from Subtitle in a match.

Hill, whose charge could now head for Cheltenham’s hunter chase meeting, said: “I thought the horse needed to have a race and get his confidence back.”

The Hills’ hopes of sealing a treble in another match for the closing Cub Cadet Kimblewick Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race were foiled when Brians Well was beaten eight lengths by Too Late To Sell, ridden by Katy Lyons, from Lockinge, near Wantage.

Tetsworth trainer Lynn Redman saddled Goodnight Vienna to beat odds-on favourite Karinga Dancer in the Ladies’ Open under a positive ride from Tabitha Worsley.