Ben Pauling edged his way toward a maiden century of winners in a season as a short-priced double took his tally to 90 in a breakthrough season that has seen him top £1.5m in prize money for the first time.

Favourite backers just finishing their lunch had good cause to choke having backed Jimbo Sport down to 2/1 in the opening novices’ hurdle. Callum Pritchard had a ding-dong battle with fellow weighing room inmate Sam Twiston-Davies on Current Edition from 3 out. A sustained battle ensued, Pritchard prevailing by a nose at the line to land the odds in the Weatherbys-sponsored opener.

The stomach was well settled by the time of the second Weatherbys-backed race, a handicap chase over 3m, which turned into a straightforward contest for stable jockey Ben Jones, as Your Darling completed a fifth career steeplechase win by 14l and keep favourite backers in clover. Your Darling may head to the Punchestown festival starting on April 30th.

Meanwhile a mid-ranking yard took another step in a strong finish to the season. Neil Mulholland trains from Conkwell Grange outside Bath, and is admirably consistent year on year. Despite only having two horses in the yard rated 140+, the stable has amassed 54 winners and over £600k in prize money from races like the Jack Chambers Memorial Handicap Hurdle, a Class 5 middle distance hurdle won in comfortable fashion by Jackomy under the guidance of Conor O’Farrell.

Robbie Llewellyn is headed toward his best ever season in prize money terms, although currently 10 short of his numerical personal best from 2023-24. Annie Express made favourite backers happy after the excitement of the opener with a 6 1/2l victory over Emma Lavelle’s A Little Something in the G C Rickards Mares Handicap Chase over 2m 4f. Rider Toby McCain-Mitchell cemented his reputation as one of our better conditionals, this his 30th winner of the season, just one season after turning pro.

The finish of the afternoon was battled out by another two conditionals in the following, penultimate race. Tom Broughton was making the best of his way home on Jack Hyde when joined by Harry Fry’s High Fibre under Cieran O’Shea two out. O’Shea went on but Broughton conjured extra effort from the Ravenswell 8 year old to lead close home, the winning distance a short head.

Hunter chase fans will be gutted to learn that Cheltenham’s season has been curtailed, given a casualty is the Hunters’ evening – a rare chance for amateurs to ride around the home of Jump racing. Albeit that the races are to be staged at Warwick, the ambiance is not the same. Courses like Ludlow, Stratford, Hexham and Fakenham are to be applauded for maintaining their rural roots. Shame then that only 5 turned out for the closing 2 1/2m hunters chase, won by Guy Sankey on the Nick Gittins – trained Great Valley.