Conditional jockey Charlotte Jones recorded her 70th career success on the Jimmy Moffatt-trained Lunar Discovery in the 2m Season's Greetings From Hexham Bookmakers Mares' Novices' Hurdle Race at Hexham on Wednesday, December 13.
The six-year-old was always close up behind Warwickshire raider Smurfette (Tristan Durrell) until cruising into the lead approaching the last, and eased her way clear on the run-in to score by six lengths.
Lunar Discovery has now tasted victory on all three visits to Hexham, while Jones has won four times from six rides on the daughter of Pether's Moon.
Cartmel-based Moffatt said: ''We've always thought a lot of her. She had a respiratory problem at Aintree two starts ago and was unlucky not to win at Ayr when disqualified, but she's useful and would be the best mare I've trained.
We hope she'll go on to better things. She might step up into Listed company at Haydock on Saturday (December 23) because she had such an easy race here and it's one to consider.''
Owner-breeders Kevin and Anne Glastonbury were maintaining their 100% record at the track, with seven winners from seven runners courtesy of Bingoo and Lunar Discovery.
Breeze of Wind has improved with every outing this season since joining Stuart Coltherd's Selkirk yard and justified strong market support when landing the 2m4f Buttermere Handicap Chase in the hands of son Sam.
Relishing the heavy ground, the six-year-old was always prominent and, after taking it up two out, drew clear approaching the last to beat Monaghan Boy (Emma Smith-Chaston) by eleven lengths.
Langholm trainer James Ewart was celebrating after Juge Et Parti (Danny McMenamin) ended a losing run stretching back to July 2021 in the 2m4f Season's Greetings From Hexham Racecourse Handicap Hurdle Race.
Running off a 17lb lower mark than he did on that occasion, the ten-year-old was always in touch with the leaders and recovered well after losing ground with a slow jump two out. Rallying up the hill, he went on from Teescomponentstrig (Brian Hughes) approaching the last and just did enough on the run-in to repel a renewed challenge from his rival by a neck.
Jamie Hamilton steered Event of Sivola to a fifth win on his 40th career start in the 3m Paxtons No.1 Case/IH Dealer For UK & ROI Handicap Chase.
After losing his position three out, the nine-year-old made good headway from the next to lead before the last and kept Gibberwell (James Bowen) at bay on the run-in to score by one-and-three-quarter lengths - his first success since landing a 4m Chase at Hexham in November 2022.
Rock Danse (Daire Davis) provided Cheltenham trainer Fergal O'Brien with a 69th winner of the season in the 2m4f Horslyx Supporting Hexham Racecourse Maiden Hurdle Race.
More fluent than Irish raider Rowdy Romeo (Oran McGill) at the final flight when disputing the lead, the six-year-old found extra on the flat and drew clear to score by three lengths.
Pauline Robson's in-form Capheaton yard made it three winners from the last four runners with Heeztheboy's victory under Craig Nichol in the 2m Tant Pis Handicap Chase off bottom weight of 10st 2lb.
Always lying handy, the six-year-old went third on the home turn before taking it up inside the final furlong. He kept on strongly all the way to the line to beat Travail D'Orfevre (Bruce Lynn) by five lengths, with the gallant runner-up trying to concede 23lb to the winner.
Nichol said: ''I'd schooled him plenty ahead of his debut over fences and knew he was fit enough, so rode him with confidence and it's worked out well.''
My Last Oscar (James Bowen) rewarded Minehead trainer Nicky Martin's enterprise in making a rare visit to Hexham with an impressive victory under top weight of 12st in the concluding 2m7f Look Forward To Seeing You In 2024 Handicap Hurdle Race.
After being sent well clear of his rivals at the last, the eight-year-old cruised home seventeen lengths ahead of You Say Its Over (Brian Hughes).
Bowen said: ''I was a bit gutted when my other ride (Gibberwell) finished second but this makes the long drive from South Wales worthwhile. To be honest, I didn't think he was going anywhere most of the way but he travelled well up the hill from two out and and came for me as the leaders dropped back on the long run to the last.''
The course can now enjoy its traditional three-month winter break, with the first of 14 fixtures in 2024 taking place on Thursday, March 14.
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