Jumps finale treble for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies

Handsome Buddy and Peter Carberry (left) went on to get the better of long-time leader Get Ready To Go and Harry Challoner in the Fairport Trelawny Handicap Steeple Chase. Picture: Morris Troughton

Although just six went to post for the day’s longest race, the Fairport Trelawny Handicap Chase over three miles and five furlongs, it turned out to be an exciting contest. Get Ready To Go set a good pace up front and was still in the lead coming to the last fence.

But, Handsome Buddy, trained near Stratford by Michael Gates, was closing ominously and, having jumped to the front, the 11-4 favourite went away to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

There was a big field of 17 for the opening MHM One Call Maiden Hurdle, but very few runners got competitive with the first three home up with the pace from the off.

The winner Ulzana’s Raid was always travelling well on the heels of the leaders, with jockey Robert Thornton cutting every corner to save ground.

A mistake at the second-last did not help his cause but, in the end, it made no difference as Alan King’s charge pulled away from Java Rose and Master Todd on the run-in.

The Brandon Hire Group Novices’ Hurdle followed, with Long Lunch from the successful Charlie Longsdon stable heading the betting market at 11-10.

Always prominent, Long Lunch had every chance, but was struggling from the home turn to peg back leader Saint Jerome, who relished the drying ground and had too much speed for his rivals.

Winged Crusader stepped up in trip for the GenSet Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles and was also racing off an 8lb higher mark than when winning at Huntingdon last time out.

Neither proved a problem as he stayed on well from the last flight to deny Squire Trelawney and set up the Twiston-Davies treble.

There was open betting in the Executive Hire News Mares’ Handicap Hurdle with Polly Peacham sent off the 3-1 favourite.

Not seen out since running at Ascot in December, Nicky Henderson’s mare led two flights from home, quickly establishing a lead that stretched to 14 lengths at the winning line.

Polly Peachum became the fourth winning favourite from five races and Brody Bleu, who had made the trip from Blandford in Dorset, and Rockchasebullet jointly headed the market at 7-2 to keep the run going in the Executive Hire Show Handicap Chase.

But, this time it was the bookies who came out on top, as Brody Bleu was being pushed along when he fell at the fifth-last fence and Rockchasebullet could not reel in top-weight Speed Master, who became the second winner for the Twiston-Davies family.

With the ground quickening up all the time, six horses were withdrawn from the concluding National Hunt Flat Race, but King’s Tempest still ran out an impressive winner to complete the Twiston-Davies treble.