LILY Bradstock was thrilled after nursing the injury-hit Danby’s Star to victory in the Savills Heythrop Hunt meet at Cocklebarrow.

The eight-year-old gelding, owned and trained by Bradstock’s mother, Sara, at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, battled to a two-and-a-half-length victory in the Wurzel High Speed Broadband six-year-olds and over Open Maiden.

It completed a great comeback for Danby’s Star (who has been schooling with former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree), after he broke his pelvis two years ago.

Lily, 21, who was riding her second winner, said: “He is Coneygree’s work partner and is the best work horse with him, but he never shows it on the track.

“He did a lot of rehab and working on the flat at home. That has made a massive difference.”

Sara added: “It is a really lovely story. He broke his pelvis and Lily nursed him and has got him believing in himself.”

Dabinett Moon, trained by Fran Marriott at Chipping Norton, landed the Skinner’s Ladies’ Open in tremendous style to set up a potential defence of her crown in the series final at Stratford on June 8.

After the 15-year-old Carruthers, ridden by Bradstock, had helped to make made much of the running in the 3m 4f contest, Claire Hardwick sent Dabinett Moon, a mere youngster by comparison at the age of ten, into the lead four fences from home.

Her mount quickly strode clear, coasting home by 12 lengths from Carruthers, with Start Royal three lengths further adrift.

Meeting secretary Christopher Marriott owns Dabinett Moon in partnership with his wife, Fran, and he said: “I was very worried that the ground was against her because it is quite sticky, and I was not certain she would stay the extra distance against horses like Carruthers and Start Royal.”

Howard Pauling, who trains at Chadlington, near Chipping Norton, ended years of trying to land the Knight Frank Heythrop Hunt Members’, Subscribers’ and Farmers’ race when En Passe carried his colours to a convincing victory.

The nine-year-old mare, who won the intermediate race at Cocklebarrow 12 months ago, jumped her way into the lead seven fences from home under Peter Mason, before sealing a three-lengths victory over 2016 winner Buck Magic with a fine leap at the last.

Pauling, who recalled he had been second several times as a rider and owner, said: “You always want to win your members, but it seems to have taken me a long time.”