Claire Matheson made it third time lucky when riding her first winner aboard Roll With It at the Old Berkshire Hunt meeting at Lockinge, near Wantage, yesterday.

Unseated from the 12-year-old on her first two rides, Matheson, who also trains the gelding at Stanton Harcourt, near Witney, made no mistake this time in the members' race in front of an estimated 9,000 crowd.

She produced Roll With It to challenge hot favourite Tubber Roads at the last fence, and he nipped round the bend to pass the post five lengths clear of Midnight Coup and Elizabeth Tyler.

Tubber Road faded to finish a further seven lengths back in third.

"That was brilliant," said 20-year-old Matheson. "To get round was the main thing. He did a beautiful leap at the second last and just went."

Mat Hazell, who trains at Denchworth, near Wantage, ended a frustrating run of near misses when Jewel Song gave him his first winner this season in the open maiden.

Jonathon Jarrett, 18, who works for top National Hunt trainer Henrietta Knight at West Lockinge, went clear after the third-last fence on the seven-year-old, before holding off Spring Dawn by two and a half lengths.

Jewel Song is owned by Sheila Nash, who lives at Kingston Lisle, near Wantage.

And Hazell said: "We have had lots of seconds and thirds and were beginning to think we weren't going to get a winner, but luckily it has come off here."

Brer Bear, whose success in the maiden at this fixture 12 months ago gave Chosley trainer Emma Insley her first winner, returned to take the intermediate in style.

The progressive six-year-old had the race in safe keeping when Arctic King slipped up on the flat after the last, leaving Proby Lady to finish a 25-lengths second.

Sixteen-year-old Felix de Giles, from Highworth, near Swindon, notched his first winner with a trail-blazing ride on Hi Rudolf in the members' race for novice riders.

He led his rivals a merry dance on the ten-year-old, who is trained by John Manners at Highworth, to beat Matlby Son by six lengths.

And de Giles almost made it a double, just being caught on the line and beaten a head by Dorset Fern and Emma James in the restricted race.

Ball In The Net scored a hat-trick of wins when taking the mixed open for jockey Michael Holdworth and trainer Penny Lownds.

RESULTS

Members: 1 ROLL WITH IT (C Matheson) 5-1, 2 Midnight Coup 9-2, 3 Tubber Roads Evens fav. Trainer: C Matheson (Old Berks). Dist: 5l, 7l. 6 ran.

Intermediate: 1 BRER BEAR (J Diment) 10-11 fav, 2 Proby Lady 4-1, 3 Lord Ken 3-1. Trainer: E Insley (Old Berks). Dist: 25l, 1l. 5 ran.

Members' race for novice riders: 1 HI RUDOLF (F de Giles) 5-1, 2 Maltby Son 12-1, 3 Sutton Courtenay 2-1. Trainer: J Manners (Berks & Bucks). Dist: 6l, hd. 6 ran.

Mixed Open: 1 BALL IN THE NET (M Holdworth) 7-2, 2 Thunder Thighs 3-1 jt fav, 3 Friar Waddon 5-1. Trainer: P Lownds (Hursley Hambledon). Dist: 2l, 15l. 8 ran.

Restricted: 1 DORSET FERN (E James) 10-1, 2 Taffy 14-1, 3 Eastern Apple 5-1. Trainer: E James (North Ledbury). Dist: Hd, 8l. 10 ran.

Open maiden: 1 JEWEL SONG (J Jarrett) 7-1, 2 Spring Dawn 4-1, 3 Lawman 9-2. Trainer: M Hazell (Old Berks). Dist: 2 l, 20l. 9 ran.

Laura Jenkins, 9, from Stratton Audley, near Bicester, recorded a winner on Barkway Little Swift on her first ride in one of the two pony races which followed the main meeting.