HIMBLETON jockey jockey Phine Banks caused the shock of the day at the Harkaway point to point at Chaddesley Corbett last Friday.

Riding Horsham Lad, Banks saw off hot favourite Promising Anshan to win the AGA sponsord Ladies Open race.

in a tight three-way battle, the horse, trained by Jelly O’Brien, held on for victory as Ansham and Big Game Hunter faded.

Horsham Lad was purchased by Christine Banks off sister and brother in law Angela Rucker and Ian Williams.

Banks, who works for the Ministry of Defence, is 24-year-old’s owner and rider and picked up a hatful of AGA goodies after the race.

That was the most exciting race of the day as the Harkaway Club defied the wet weather to get the race meeting on.

Gloucestershire jockey Sam Drinkwater enjoyed a successful day with two seconds and a winner and he could be a major player in this years Riders Championship.

Drinkwater used similar tactics on all three occasions and as a result he returned with his colours in pristine condition while everybody else was covered in mud.

He sent Le Burf to the front from the start of the Conditions until they were passed by Silver Token in the home straight and then fought back bravely to get within three quarters of a length of the winner as they passed the judge.

Drinkwater went one better in the following Restricted when Trouble Digger fought off the persistent challenge of Prof De L’Isle over the final two fences before another second place was secured by Dammam in the Men’s Open.

Dammam finished runner-up to Cottage Oak and that horse’s connections were dreaming of Cheltenham glory after the race.

Co-owners Richard Hewitt and Cheshire trainer Joe O’Shea fear nothing with this nine-year-old son of Flemensfirth and have an ambitious programme mapped out for the future.

Zara Phillips was out of luck with her two runners.

Fiddle Faddle was pulled up in the Non-Rules Runners Maiden which went to I Believe, while stablemate First Watch went at the final open ditch in the open Maiden which was won by Bringinthebranston the second leg of a double for Welsh owner/Trainer David Brace.

Results - Harkaway Club Members Conditions: 1 Silver Token (T David) 14/1; 2 Le Burf; 3 Vic Venturi (17 ran).

Harkaway Club Members Restricted: 1 Trouble Digger (SW Drinkwater) 7/1; 2 Prof De L'Isle; 3 Roseyroo (18 ran).

AGA Ladies Open: 1 Horsham Lad (J Banks) 7/1; 2 Promising Anshan; 3 Big Game Hunter (five ran).

Men’s Open: 1 Cottage Oak (P Gerety) 5/2; 2 Dammam; 3 Officier De Reserve (12 ran).

12 Ran Harkaway Club Members Non-Rules Runners Maiden: 1 I Believe (B Andrews) 14/1; 2 Shales Rock (only two finished, 15 ran).

Harkaway Club Members Maiden: 1 Bringinthebranston (C Prichard) 6/1; 2 Aboo Dreamer (only two finished, 11 ran).