Start Royal sealed a quickfire treble for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill at the Kimblewick Hunt meeting at Kimble, near Aylesbury, on Saturday.

Despite extensive watering producing ground officially described as good (good to firm in places), the six-race card attracted just 18 runners capped by a walkover.

Hill made hay in the first three events in front of a huge crowd – highlighted by Start Royal’s runaway success in the men's open.

Sent off a 1-3 favourite, the seven-year-old romped home by a distance from Seymar Lad under James Tudor to stay firmly in contention for the national young horse title.

Ocean Du Moulin kicked off Hill's hat-trick, beating Ringa Bay by four lengths under a fine ride from his daughter, Gaby, in the confined.

“He was fantastic – a real star,” said the Headington School student. “He went away every time a horse came to him.”

Balladeer provided the middle leg of Hill's treble when galloping 20 lengths clear of Dun Drinan in the ladies’ open under Emily Harbour, from Emmingham, near Thame.

It was a welcome winner for Harbour, who was only given her licence back on Thursday following a crashing fall from the Hill-trained Mysaynoway at Whitfield on March 20.

Paul Cowley, from Culworth, near Banbury, made his first ride for two years a winning one with victory on Grand Article, trained by his wife, Alana, in the open maiden.

After bringing the seven-year-old home by eight lengths from Mister Cee Jay, Cowley, who trains himself under National Hunt Rules, put his absence from the saddle down to being busy with his business.

Philip York notched another winner in his quest for the men’s title when Caught In Time took the restricted for Great Missenden trainer Karen Lawther.

RESULTS

Confined: 1 OCEAN DU MOULIN (G Hill) 4-5 fav, 2 Ringa Bay 7-4, 3 Prince Of Persia 14-1. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: 4l, 25l. 4 ran.

Ladies' open: 1 BALLADEER (E Harbour) 4-5 fav, 2 Dun Drinan 3-1, 3 Roaringwater 5-4. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: 20l, dist. 3 ran.

Men's open: 1 START ROYAL (J Tudor) 1-3 fav, 2 Seymar Lad 2-1. Only two finished. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: dist. 3 ran.

Restricted: 1 CAUGHT IN TIME (P York) 1-2 fav, 2 Gardener's Cottage 4-1, 3 Minella Mos 5-1. Trainer: K Lawther. Dist: 6l, dist. 4 ran.

Open maiden: 1 GRAND ARTICLE (P Cowley) 4-1, 2 Mister Cee Jay 1-2 fav, 3 Springtree 3-1. Trainer: A Cowley. Dist: 8l, 15l. 3 ran.

Intermediate: 1 PHARANTO (M Wills) walked over. Trainer: M Wills.