Berks & Bucks And Staff College & RMAS Draghounds

Description's win at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, provided Alan Hill’s Aston Rowant yard with a small measure of consolation following the earlier fatal fall of Mzuri Bay.

Gina Andrews made all the running on Description in the ladies’ open, before holding off the challenge of Shammy Buskins and Emily Harbour by half a length in front of a bumper 6,000 crowd.

It came after Hill had lost Mzuri Bay when the eight-year-old gelding broke his neck in a fall at the fourth-last fence while leading under James Tudor in the men’s open, won by Ned The Post for the third year running.

Description’s victory clin-ched Kingston Blount’s leading horse title this season.

And Rodney Mann, who owns the 11-year-old on a lease, said: “He has been second so many times, he deserves that win.

“It was tight, but these horses know when they win.”

And reflecting on Hill having a winner straight after the loss of Mzuri Bay, Mann added: “It is very important for him and everybody there.

“It isn’t just Alan, but the person who rides out the horse and who looks after the horse.”

Caulkin was left clear by Mzuri Bay’s fall, but he was collared by Ned The Post approaching the last, and Ed Barnett’s mount stayed on well to claim victory by a length and a half, with hot favourite Ravethebrave only fourth.

Polly Gundry, partner of Ed Walker, who trains Ned The Post at Ottery St Mary, near Honiton, said: “He is just such a toughie and loves it here.”

Radetsky March, pulled up on his three previous starts under National Hunt Rules, bounced back to winning ways in the members’ race under Katy Lyons.

Compton trainer Sally Duckett commented: “He just needs TLC, I think.”

David Kemp, who trains at Thetford in Norfolk, was crowned Kingston Blount’s leading rider with a ten-lengths victory on the game Master Workman in the intermediate.

Tempelpirate, from Tim Underwood’s Beedon yard, near Newbury, followed up his maiden victory at the last Kingston meeting with a 15-lengths win in the restricted under Will Hickman.

And Classic Destiny, second to Tempelpirate last time, went one better when holding off Earl Grez by half a length in the maiden for trainer Jenny Pidgeon and rider Tom Ellis.

RESULTS

Members: 1 RADETSKY MARCH (K Lyons) 4-1, 2 Quattrocento 8-1, 3 One Wish 7-4. Trainer: S Duckett. Dist: 10l, 2l. 9 ran.

Intermediate: 1 MASTER WORKMAN (D Kemp) 8-1, 2 Commanche Conflict 5-2 jt fav, 3 Caspian Piper 7-1. Trainer: D Kemp. Dist: 10l, 4l. 15 ran.

Men’s open: 1 NED THE POST (E Barrett) 4-1, 2 Caulkin 10-1, 3 She Is A Cracker 6-1. Trainer: E Walker. Dist: 1½l, 3l. 11 ran.

Ladies’ open: 1 DESCRIPTION (G Andrews) 4-9 fav, 2 Shammy Buskins 7-1, 3 Extra Bold 7-2. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: ½l, 12l. 7 ran.

Restricted: 1 TEMPELPIRATE (W Hickman) 6-1, 2 Valentine’o’seven 20-1, 3 Grand Article 14-1. Trainer: T Under-wood. Dist: 15l, 6l. 13 ran.

Open maiden: 1 CLASSIC DESTINY (T Ellis) 3-1, 2 Earl Grez 3-1, 3 King’s Performance 12-1. Trainer: J Pidgeon. Dist: ½l, 1l. 13 ran.