AFTER three successive visits to the second-placed enclosure, Barbara Waring was back in the winners berth at Stratford last Thursday.

A delighted Welford trainer accompanied Martha Reilly into the No 1 slot after the opener, a maiden hurdle race of almost three miles, in which the five-year-old favourite romped to victory.

Waring's winner was a sign of things to come for the punters as the first three races saw the favourite first past the post.

Tony McCoy partnered Sully's Hope in the second, while Richard Thornton was on board Marcus Maximus in the third race, a selling hurdle.

Broom handler, Tony Carroll, was also smiling as 12/1 chance, Talents Little Gem, ran a gutsy race to claim third place behind Thornton's mount.

McCoy, this time riding for Martin Pipe, was denied a second winner when the odds-on Present Bleu was beaten by 11/2 shot Native Fling in the day's richest race, the Pennine Project Management Handicap Chase, while another favourite, Hachty Boy, failed to make it four in row when upstaged by Mestra Sala (5/1) in a novice chase.

Supreme Glory was the afternoon's biggest winner at 7/1 in the penultimate race before the bookies were again smiling as 10/11 chance, Pharpost, gave the Norman Williamson and Venetia Williams combination victory in the last.