Zara Phillips added to her collection of equestrian feats by sending out Manor Down to post her first winner as a trainer with victory at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton.

The Princess Royal's daughter, who won individual gold for Great Britain at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, trained the ten-year-old to spring a 20-1 surprise in the intermediate race at the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase meeting.

However, she wasn't there to see it as she was competing in a three-day event in Portugal.

Seventeen-year-old Tom David, on his first ride back after breaking a collar-bone at Erw Lon in South Wales three weeks ago, sent Phillips's charge into the lead after the second last.

And his mount held on to beat Flax Hill by half a length with the fast-finishing James Pine a length back in third.

Friends sent text messages to Phillips, who trains the horse at Gatcombe, informing her of the victory.

And Dolly Maude, representing the handler, said: "She has trained this herself. It is all her work.

"He always runs well fresh - first time out is the time to catch him."

Mike Tuckey, who has a farm in between Brill and Piddington, was another owner-trainer to miss seeing his horse win when Pro Am captured the members' race under his jockey-son Ben.

Tuckey was away in France as the ten-year-old made all the running before holding off the renewed challenge of Alf Lauren by a length.

"I was quite surprised to see him there at the last, but I knew I hadn't asked him for a lot and I had a little bit left in the tank," reported Ben.

Irilut bounced back to winning ways in the men's open for owner-trainer Robert Waley-Cohen, who is based at Edge Hill, near Banbury.

Winner of the Lord Ashton of Hyde's Cup at the Heythrop meeting before finishing second to Man From Highworth in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill, the 12-year-old was pushed out by Sam Waley-Cohen to beat Reel Dancer by a length.

Connections have numerous options for their prolific winner now, including the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Candarli came up trumps again for owner John Hanmer, who lives at East Challow, near Wantage, with an easy victory in the ladies' open.

A winner at the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting at Dunthrop before Christmas, the 12-year-old, whom Hanmer owns with Malmesbury handler Chris Smyth, skipped clear under Chloe Boxall to beat Lady Baronette by eight lengths.

Aitchjayem, who takes his name from his Highworth owner-trainer John Manners' initials, opened his account with a game victory under David Bass in the open maiden.

Rash Move completed a hat-trick in the confined thanks to a positive ride from trainer-jockey Fred Hutsby, who took up the running at halfway for a six-lengths success.

Didgery, trained and ridden by Warwickshire-based Tom Ellis, won a match for the confined maiden for four to seven-year-olds, beating Seaplace by six lengths.

RESULTS Members: 1 PRO AM (B Tuckey) 2-5 fav, 2 Alf Lauren 14-1, 3 Sir Lancelot 2-1. Trainer M Tuckey (Bicester with Whaddon Chase). Dist: 1l, 15l. 4 ran.

Confined Maiden (4-7yo): 1 DIDGERY (T Ellis) Evens, 2 Seaplace 4-6 fav. Trainer: T Ellis (Warwickshire). Dist: 6l. 2 ran.

Ladies' Open: 1 CANDARLI (C Boxall) 4-6 fav, 2 Lady Baronette 5-4, 3 Hunting Lodge 12-1. Trainer: C Smyth (Vale of White Horse). Dist: 8l, 6l. 3 ran.

Men's Open: 1 IRILUT (S Waley-Cohen) 2-7 fav, 2 Reel Dancer 11-4, 3 Be My Dream 16-1. Trainer: R Waley-Cohen (Warwickshire). Dist: 1l, 2l. 4 ran.

Confined: 1 RASH MOVE (F Hutsby) 5-2, 2 Tender Tangle 13-8 fav, 3 East Lawyer 20-1. Trainer: F Hutsby (Warwickshire). Dist: 6l, 15l. 6 ran.

Intermediate: 1 MANOR DOWN (T David) 20-1, 2 Flax Hill 6-4 fav, 3 James Pine 9-1. Trainer: Z Phillips (Duke of Beaufort's). Dist: l, 1l. 7 ran.

Open Maiden: 1 AITCHJAYEM (D Bass) 6-4 fav, 2 Freedomofthecity 11-4, 3 Murotoevation 5-1. Trainer: HJ Manners (Vale of White Horse). Dist: l, dist. 6 ran.

Our picture shows Ben Tuckey steering Pro Am to a one-length victory in the members' race at Dunthrop.

3:54pm Wednesday 5th March 2008

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