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The admirable Denvale, trained by Gerald Bailey, gave a master class in jumping when making all to win the Mixed Open in the hands of owner Richard Hunnisett, who was sporting a new set of colours.

Gordon, as Denvale is known in the yard - "He's named after Flash Gordon," announced Richard - had been running from Gerald's wife Caroline's licensed yard and was purchased by Richard on the recommendation of Dickie Barrett, who pointed out that he was still awaiting his agent's fee.

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Most riders are superstitious about wearing brand new colours, and will rub them in the mud before donning them. Added weight was given to the theory that they bring bad luck when Richard's first ride in his pristine set, Harapour in the Confined, dumped his rider at the start and ran loose for a short while before being recaptured. "My flies were undone," admitted Richard, "so I stood up in my stirrups to do them up, knowing that he [Harapour] is so well-mannered that he would just stand there." Unfortunately that conviction, along with Richard, bit the dust.

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Dickie himself, assistant trainer to Caroline Bailey, got on the winners' list when another from Gerald's stable, Alan and Jane Bowen's Byways Boy, also showed his fencing prowess in the Restricted. "For a Restricted horse, that was as good as round of jumping as you'll see," enthused Gerald, although it was not always thus. "He used to be so cocky, taking the fences on, but he went a real purler in a schooling fall before he ever ran," explained Caroline, "but since then his jumping has turned around." Dickie agreed, handing the credit for the transformation to Miles Seston, who was the unfortunate rider on that occasion.

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Samantha Klug was concussed, and also suffered an arm injury, when her mount Naturally Inspired was one of numerous non-finishers in an incident-strewn Novice Riders' race. Phenix Jack set a suicidal pace which led to a trail of carnage, with the medical personnel being pressed into service at no fewer than four of the fences. Sam Vaughan-Jones was another casualty, breaking his collarbone when The Fairhill Boy took a crashing fall at the ditch.

It was noticeable that Henry Brooke, rider of the winner Gun Smith and probably the most experienced pilot in the race, declined the early gallop, thus confirming Nick Kent's opinion that "He's impressive for a novice." Nick trains Gun Smith for Andy Parkin, whose Lincolnshire Tyre Company very appropriately, considering the way the race panned out, sponsored the paramedics on the day.

"It's difficult to know what to do with him as he doesn't truly stay three miles," said Nick of Gun Smith, who he described as the best thoroughbred hunter he had ever ridden. "I haven't ruled out Hunter Chasing, but I haven't really decided."

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With one of the ambulances having to leave the course there was a considerable delay prior to the following Confined, in which Guy Brewer deputised successfully on Samantha's Caramia. Guy picked up the ride at the request of the chestnut's raceday groom Hannah Mollett, who took it upon herself to choose a replacement jockey. Caramia owed his victory entirely to the strength and ability of his partner, who can seldom have had to work so hard during a race. "If ever a horse would be helped by blinkers, this is it," he opined, adding "They'd certainly help me, anyway!"

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Guy had earlier won the Maiden Division Two on Oojar, whose owner Reg Makin was nursing a broken leg sustained in a fall when out shooting. Oojar was in the Brewers' yard last year but has since rejoined the Makins, having originally been sent to Reg's wife Jane to be prepared for the sales. "He was really weak last season," reported Jane, "but he's very straightforward. I ride him myself, and look how old I am! And I've got two artificial hips!"

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The Maiden was split at declaration, and Division One went to Fernandina, owned by the father and son combination of Michael and Tom Bannister, with the former recalling it had been many years since he last had a winner [Bell Busk in the Pendle Forest & Craven Hunt race in 1984]. Winning rider Jake Greenall (who triumphed on Attrapeur at Bangor the following day) had held up proceedings for a few minutes when realising he was wearing the wrong cap colour and having to make a hasty return to the changing tent to rectify the situation.

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Fernandina was saddled by David Easterby, who was celebrating his engagement earlier in the week to Stephanie Walters, a crime scene investigator. David took his weekend tally to four with a treble at Dalton Park 24 hours later.

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Men's championship leader Richard Burton went to the meeting for one ride which duly obliged. The improving Horsham Lad completed a seasonal hat-trick with a ready success in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate. "He kept getting pus in his foot as a youngster, and it wouldn't clear, but eventually the sole came off, which was the best thing that could have happened as he's had no problems since," smiled owner William Rucker, who has a possible tilt at the pointtopoint.co.uk John Corbet Cup in mind.

With trainer Fergal O'Brien at Sandown for his boss Nigel Twiston-Davies, it was his wife Jelly, paying her first visit to Brocklesby Park, who saddled the winner. "I'm supposed to be going to the Cotswold Hunt Ball tonight," said Jelly, whose journey from Naunton had taken in excess of three-and-a-half hours, "but I think we'll be rather late getting home."

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"Tom Weston has ridden five winners today." William attempts to goad Richard with regard to the progress of his nearest challenger in the title race.

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