More Trouble took another step up the ladder by completing a four-timer for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill with a game success in the men’s open at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor.

The eight-year-old added to his wins in members, restricted and intermediate races on his last three starts by claiming the scalp of Bowden’s Lane, runaway winner of the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup – one of the sport’s four classic races – at Dunthrop in January.

James Tudor gave the Rodney Mann-owned gelding a positive front-running ride, before holding off Bowdens Lane by half a length on the long run-in, with the last fence being bypassed after Left To Himself suffered a fatal injury in a fall there on the previous circuit. Hill said: “That was a gutsy performance – his jumping was awesome.”

And Tudor added: “I make no pretense I didn’t like him at all earlier in the season, but we have put blinkers on him and he is a reformed character.”

Lucy Barry took a huge stride towards the national novice wom-en’s riders title with a double in the first two races aboard Trizzy and No John No for Highworth trainer Johnny Manners.

The 17-year-old, from Swindon, got the better of a tactical affair in the members’ race to regain the lead from To The Top at the last fence for a three-quarters of a length victory.

And she shone again in the open maiden for four to seven-year-olds, giving 12-1 shot No John No time to get in the race after he had lost ground at the start.

Her patience paid off as the seven-year-old came through to beat Mirage Prince by 12 lengths for her sixth winner of the season, putting her three clear of her pursuers in the title race.

It left Manners to exclaim: “Two no-hopers and they both came and won.”

Avesomeofthat repeated his course win at the last Kingston Blount meetingwhen completing a hat-trick under a cool ride from his Westbury-on-Severn trainer Hannah Lewis in the ladies’ open.

Sorbiediditmyway, the 40-1 outsider of six in the restricted, sprang a huge shock with a runaway success.

Jamie Goss, deputising for owner Andy Tutton’s injured daughter, Ruth, made all the running on the Jackie Hunt-trained ten-year-old to slam Port Talbot by 25 lengths.

There was a sad postcript to the race with Leadbrook Lad, a winner at the last meeting for trainer-rider Patrick Millington, having to be put down after breaking a leg when coming down Crowell knoll. Ned The Post and David Mansell took the open maiden for Shropshire trainer Zoe Hammond and owner Don Constable – the second successive year they had brought an Irish import to the meeting to score following Uncle Dan’s win 12 months ago.