Lucinda Barrett-Nobbs defied the odds to score the first victory of her riding career at the Waveney Harriers Point-To-Point at Higham yesterday.

Her mount, Lambrini King, was the outsider of the five runners in the Members’ Race, having not run since falling at the first fence of his chasing debut at Southwell more than three years previously.

Undaunted, Barrett-Nobbs conjured some great leaps from her charge, most notably at the final obstacle. This took Lambrini King past the favourite, Treasure Dome, into the lead and he was still three lengths clear at the winning post.

It was sweet revenge for 20-year-old Barrett-Nobbs, from Dennington near Framlingham, as in this race in 2003 she lost out to Treasure Dome in a thrilling finish when riding Dancing Ranger.

Trainer John Ibbott, from Chediston near Halesworth, has wisely given Lambrini King plenty of time to mature since buying him in 2001, initially nursing him back from a thrown splint and then hunting him regularly in order to teach him to settle.

The Red Boy and Gallant Glen,  two horses that had enjoyed differing fortunes at Cottenham the week before, were both on the mark here.The Red Boy, trained at Bishop’s Stortford by Christopher Sporborg and ridden by Newmarket’s Andrew Braithwaite, became the first horse in the country to register a second victory in the nascent 2004 season when proving much too strong for Royal Action in the Confined Race.

Half an hour later and Gallant Glen, who had been most unfortunate to be forced off the course by a loose horse when in the lead at Cottenham, enjoyed better luck when beating Win The Toss  by 15 lengths in the Men’s Open Race.

Trained at North Weald in Essex by Perry Harding-Jones, Gallant Glen was assisted by the fall of the favourite, Shanavogh. But this was still a smart performance and the 11-year-old is likely to run again at Ampton on January 25 before a possible switch to Hunter Chases.

The Ladies’ Open race saw another impressive winner in the shape of the pointing debutant, Placid Man. Jumping boldly in front under Alex Embiricos, this Un Desperado gelding was eased right down to beat Fair Kiowa,  who ruined his chance with some poor fencing, by five lengths.Finally, Alex Merriam, from Eye in Suffolk, gained the most notable victory of his burgeoning riding career when Always On The Line  lifted the prestigious Men’s Open Race at yesterday’s Army Point-To-Point at Larkhill in Wiltshire.

Results

Waveney Harriers Members’ Race:

1 J T Ibbott’s Lambrini King (Waveney Harriers) (Miss L Barrett-Nobbs).

2 J W and Mrs A Whyte’s Treasure Dme (Waveney Harriers) (R H Fowler).

3 The Good Craic Club’s No Nay Never (Waveney Harriers) (Miss A Bowles).

Also Border Burn (4th) Musical Hit (5th).  Distances: Four lengths, six lengths. 5 ran. Time 6.24, Tote win £7.80 DF £27 SP 10/1 (Treasure Dome 6/4 fav).

Confined Race:

1 C H Sporborg’s The Red Boy (Puckeridge) (A Braithwaite).

2 A G Chinery’s Royal Action (East Essex) (P Chinery).

3 The Marriage Family’s Pampered Gale (Essex) (Miss N Barnes).

Also Endeavour (Ur) Highland Rose (Pu). 5 ran, Distances: A distance; A distance. Time: 6.04. Tote win £2.40, DF £5.50 4/5 fav.

Men’s Open Race:

1 D H Harding-Jones’ Gallant Glen (Puckeridge) (M Mackley).

2 Mrs L Dom’s Win the Toss (Staff College) (R Green).

3 Mr and Mrs A Howland-Jackson’s Gatchou Mans (Suffolk) (C Ward-Thomas)

Also Galeaway (Bd) Fata Listic (Pu) Hatch Gate (TNP) Shanavogh (F). 7 ran, distance Fifteen lengths, head time: 6.05 Tote win £2.20 DF £103.00 SP 6/4 (Shanavogh 5/4 fav).

Ladies’ Open Race:

1T Jones’ and Partners Placid Man (Cambridge Univ) (Miss A Embiricos).

2 Miss J Steven’s Fair Kiowa (E Anglian Bloodhounds) (Mrs S Hodge).

3 Mr and Mrs E Monck, P Claydon and A Bull, Pride of Kashmir (Grafton) (Miss S Phizacklea).

Also: The Wiley Kalmuck (4th) Attack (Pu) Hay Dance (Pu). 6 ran. Distances five lengths, six lengths. Time 6.11 Tote win £2.40 DF £6.50 SP 4/5 fav. Ical was withdrawn, not under orders. Rule 4 applies, deduction 5p in the £.

Open Maiden Race (Division One):

1 T L and Mrs A E Brooks’ Esendi (Grafton)(J Diment).

2 N A and Mrs A Jones’ What Next (E Sussex and Romeny Marsh)(A Hickman).

3 Mrs A Villar and P Beaton-Brown’s Golden Shred (Suffolk)(S Morris).

Also Sister Ali (4th) Battle Honours (F), Castle Diva (F), Hailes Gate (F), Mistrio (F).  8 ran. Distances: a distance, a distance. Time: 6.17. Tote win £3 DF £2.40. SP 7.4 fav.

Open Maiden Race (Division Two):

1 I Cobbold’s Jacob’s Choice (Staff College) (P York).

2 Mr and Mrs A Howland-Jackson’s Brookfield Bass (Suffolk) (A Braithwaite).

3 G Cooper’s Another Leader (Essex Farmers and Union) (Owner).

Also: Abbey Days (4th) Beat the Retreat (Pu) Charlotte Russe (F), Sharp Sarah (Pu) Victory Saltue (Pu). 8 ran: Distance ten length. Fifteen lengths. Time: 6.20. Tote win £10 DF £19.50 (winner with third or fourth horse)  SP 5/1 (Beat the Retreat 7/4 fav)

Intermediate Race:

1 R H York’s Star Glow (Staff College) (P York).

2 J M Turner’s Fine and Dandy (Suffolk) (J Owen).

3 The Sporting Endeavours Partners’ Tartar Sabre (Waveney Harriers) (Miss L Barrett-Nobbs).

Also: Ballylesson (Pu) Galaxy Minstret (Ur). 5 ran Distances: fifteen lengths, a distance. Time: 6.09 Tote win £1.20, DF £12.0 SP 4/9 fav.

Restricted Race:

1 S C Robinson’s Great Jubilee (Mid-Surrey) (owner).

2 B Belchem’s Paddy’s Dream (East Essex) (N Moore).

3 Miss B H Czepulowski’s General Confusion (Cambs with Enfield Chase) (S Morris).

Also Zafan (4th), Bebe Bleu (5th), Run Monty (6th), Josh’s Choice (ref). 7 ran. Distance: three lengths, 15 lengths, Time 6.11. Tote win £2. DF £22.50 SP Evens Fav.