GREEN Winter cantered to victory as the New Forest meeting took place at a cold and blustery Larkhill.

With good ground, 43 horses were declared to run and the highlights of the meeting were a smooth victory for Green Winter in the Timico-sponsored Mixed Open and a double for owner Tim Underwood plus rider Phil York.

Green Winter, who was making his seasonal debut in the Mixed Open race had a great battle with Tom Barton over the final three fences and had four lengths in hand at the winning post.

There was drama at the closing stages of the Intermediate race with the clear leader Black Jewel ridden by his owner Gordon Hopkinson looking to have secured an easy victory. However in the shadow of the post his weight cloth fell off and his disqualification was inevitable in the following stewards’ enquiry.

This left victory to Tree Sparrow ridden by Bryan Carver which provided a memorable weekend for his trainer Camilla Scott who had saddled two winners at Cothelstone the previous day.

Richard Mitchell from Piddletrenthide near Dorchester had an upturn in his fortune when his Milberry, ridden by Charlie Davies, beat the favourite Montarlot ridden by Shane Quinlan by six lengths in the Open Maiden race.

Tim Underwood has his horses in good form and he celebrated a double at the Wiltshire course. Firstly, his recently-acquired mare Bluebell Sally trained by his daughter Sarah Braclik near Henley was a very easy winner for Philip York in the Mares Maiden race.

Previously owned by Julia Oakey she had run well on her UK debut at Monmouth last month but had only been with Tim and Sarah for a week so Tim felt that all credit should go to her previous connections for this win. Sarah has one other horse in training for her father namely the ex-Charlie Longsdon gelding Ready Token.

Underwood’s double came in the Restricted race when Streets of London beat Gunner Road by two lengths.

A promising five-year-old he was supplementing a win at Barbury Castle last month and he may be out again at Penshurst in an Intermediate next weekend if he comes out of this race in order.

The meeting concluded with another win for Coco Live in the Novice Riders race. Already the winner of his last three races for owners Harriet Waight and Stan Rawlins he was ridden by Matthew Fielding who had previously triumphed aboard the gelding at Badbury Rings. He went clear after jumping the third last but having looked like he was going to record an easy victory he became rather lonely in front and only held the fast finishing Ballycahane ridden by Milo Herbert by half a length.

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