A LATE decision to run Supreme Danehill at the Heythrop Hunt Club meeting at Cocklebarrow paid handsome dividends for the Aston Rowant father-and-son team of Alan and Joe Hill.

The nine-year-old was bought by Betfair last season as part of Victoria Pendleton’s “Swapping Saddles” project.

And it was only after the gelding had impressed in a schooling session under the dual Olympic cycling champion on Saturday that he was given the go-ahead to tackle the first of the sport’s four “classics” – the Lord Ashton Of Hyde’s Cup men’s open race – by owner-trainer Alan Hill.

With son Joe on board, the 6-4 favourite made virtually all the running in the extended three-mile-and-six-furlong contest, before bounding home six lengths clear of the field.

Minutes after returning to the winner’s enclosure, Joe was on the phone to his father at Higham, who relayed news to him that the rider’s girlfriend, Izzie Marshall, had won on Start Royal for the yard.

“It is brilliant – two winners,” said Joe. “It was only at 8am that we decided to come.

“Victoria schooled him yesterday and he jumped fantastically.

“I have never ridden in it before, but it means a lot to win a classic.”

With her husband elsewhere, it was left to Lawney Hill to pick up the owner’s and trainer’s prizes.

Meanwhile, Howard Pauling, notched his first winner for “many years” when En Passe made virtually all of the running to triumph in the Tanners Intermediate Race.

Plans to hold up the eight-year-old were quickly abandoned by jockey Tom David after a flying leap at the first took her to the head of affairs, and she maintained a strong gallop to deny Kristian Gray by two lengths.

Pauling, who is based at Chadlington, near Chipping Norton, said: “She is a mare that I had out of Charlie Longsdon’s yard last year.

“I ride her out and obviously have use of the facilities of the boys.

“I used to ride in the 70s and 80s and Ben used to ride in point-to-points, but I have not really trained point-to-pointers for six to eight years.

“My last winner was Tom Putt at Whitwick many years ago.”