RAVETHEBRAVE took Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill a step nearer the Connolly’s Red Mills Trainers’ Championship with a game victory at Kingston Blount, writes RUSSELL SMITH.

Sent off the 1-3 favourite for Saturday’s ladies’ open, the ten-year-old was pushed all the way by Niki Royal before claiming a two-lengths success under Hannah Watson to put Hill five clear in the race for the title.

The gelding has been switched to ladies’ races with Hill’s son, Joe, sidelined with a broken ankle.

And the trainer said: “I am just happy he is winning. He loves 11st on his back.

“I think he will probably come back here in a couple of weeks.”

New Alco, a Cheltenham Festival runner-up six years ago, ran out a comfortable ten-lengths winner of the men’s open under Max Kendrick for Sarah Case, who trains at Edgcote, near Banbury.

She said: “He is a brilliant schoolmaster for Max and has got him going. He’s a yard favourite.”

Clondaw Island, trained by Francesca Nimmo at Lower Boddington, near Banbury, produced a spectacular front-running display to take the open maiden for four to seven-year-olds.

Will Telfer’s mount quickly established a huge lead, and kept up the gallop to come home a distance clear of Cape Kendall.

Nimmo said: “I realised how far clear he was, but we only hoped he wouldn’t get caught again as he had the last two times when he was beaten half a length and a head.”

Tempelpirate’s nine-race winning streak came to an end when the 1-4 favourite proved no match for Agent James, who followed up last month’s course win with a ten-lengths romp in the members’ race for Shenley trainer Thomas Gallagher and rider Richard Spencer.

The opening restricted race went to Triggers Ginger, with many observers thinking Blue Benny had held on in a driving finish.

But Hook Norton rider James Martin was in no doubt he had got up on the Jimmy Tarry-trained mare, saying: “I was sure I had because I knew I was in front.”

Conkies Lad, trained by Andrew Pennock, took the intermediate under a well-judged ride from Ben Rivett.

And Moroman, who won a division of the restricted on the card last year, returned to take the members’ conditions race in good style for trainer-rider David Kemp.

RESULTS

Restricted: 1 TRIGGERS GINGER (J Martin) 4-1, 2 Blue Benny 5-2 fav, 3 Mine Sweeper 25-1. Trainer: J Tarry. Dist: Hd, 1½l. 9 ran.

Members conditions: 1 MOROMAN (D Kemp) 4-6 fav, 2 Arkendale 5-2, 3 Commanche Conflict 10-1. Trainer: D Kemp. Dist: 7l, 4l. 5 ran.

Ladies’ open: 1 RAVETHEBRAVE (H Watson) 1-3 fav, 2 Niki Royal 15-2, 3 My Minds Maid 10-1. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: 2l, 12l. 7 ran.

Men’s open: 1 NEW ALCO (M Kendrick) 4-7 fav, 2 The Big Freeze 9-4, 3 Hoopy 20-1. Trainer: S Case. Dist: 10l, 12l. 5 ran.

Intermediate: 1 CONKIES LAD (B Rivett) 7-4 jt fav, 2 Nightcap Jack 7-4 jt fav, 3 Music Of The Morn 7-1. Trainer: A Pennock. Dist: 1½l, 10l. 8 ran.

Open maiden (4-7yo): 1 CLONDAW ISLAND (W Telfer) 11-4, Cape Kendall 20-1, 3 Kinlochspelve 20-1. Trainer: F Nimmo. Dist: dist, 5l. 12 ran.

Members: 1 AGENT JAMES (R Spencer) 5-1, 2 Tempelpirate 1-4 fav, 3 Viel Gluck 5-1. Trainer: T Gallagher. Dist: 10l, 1l. 5 ran.