What a day for trainer Paul Webber and jockey Dominic Elsworth as they chalked up a 110/1 plus double at Kempton, instigated by the easy success of the mare One Gulp in the feature £40,000 Starlight Lapland Mares Hurdle. A nice young tough sort that can only get better with racing, the 5 yr old will surely win more races- especially if kept to her own sex. This was in complete contrast to their second winner Laskari, an exposed 9 yr old despite absolutely bolting up by 9 L’s from Sir Bathwick and the disappointing Boomshakalaka.

Dominic was completing a treble having earlier guided the Henrietta Knight trained Somersby to a comfortable success over Clova Island in the opening novice hurdle before odds-on favourite French Opera crashed out early in the Chateau De Sours Novices’ Chase, handing the race on a plate to the Mrs Caroline Bailey trained Doctor David.

The three mile beginners’ chase went the way of the second favourite Aimgayle while the Patrick Chamings trained Midas Way, not seen in the winner’s enclosure for over two years, showed that he still has the ability when quickening up from the last to safely put Tide Slider in his place. The 8 yr old is going to feel the wrath of the handicapper so whether he will follow up I am not too sure.

14/1 shot Kilmeena Magic broke her maiden on her 39th attempt and trainer J C Fox’s duck for the 2008 season after 62 runners winning the last at Kempton by a hard fought neck from Doctor Robert and Max Bygraves.