IT was another hat-trick for owner Clive Hitchings and trainer Andy Hobbs at Monday's North Ledbury point-to-point meeting.

The duo had sent out three winners at the previous fixture over this course two weeks ago and they repeated that feat at this meeting.

The Brooklet had to concede 5lb to his rivals in the Members and although he never looked in danger of defeat he was made to work hard in the home straight before prevailing by three lengths from the fast-finishing Beyond the Stars.

Julian Pritchard guided The Brooklet to victory in this race and this started the ball rolling for the Hitchings/Hobbs combination. They were back in the winners' enclosure after Saint Reverien and Springbrook Girl had scored almost identical victories in the Mixed Open and Intermediate.

Both horses were held up at the back of the field before Adrian Wintle made his move half way down the back straight. Both quickened clear of their rivals at this point and had their races won turning into the home straight. Their winning margins were identical.

Mathon trainer Caroline Chadney has great confidence in the homeopathic treatment of horses and her record over the years proves that this strategy should not be dismissed lightly. Finne Gaothe's recent record has been blighted by broken blood vessels but the nine-year-old mare showed no signs of this problem on Monday when she won under Scott Joynes.

The mare did things the hard way and was pushed all the way up the home straight by the favourite Chateau Burf, but she ran on strongly to provide her owners, Derek Tyler and Lee French, with reward for their patience.

Twenty-three-year-old Jeremy Mahot, who works for Venetia Williams at Ross-on-Wye, rode his first winner after Diamond Alpha had scored an easy win in the eight-year-old and upwards maiden. The 11-year-old caught Bob Nickell three fences from home and had the race in safe keeping over the final two fences.

Clare Allen's star is certainly in the ascendancy this season and the Berkeley rider rode another cool and calculated race on Father Tom in the Novice Riders race.

Gentle Rivage attempted to repeat the tactics employed so successfully at Andoversford but was never able to gain a decisive advantage.

Miss Allen delayed her challenge before sending Father Tom into a race winning lead between the final two fences.

RESULTS: Members 1 The Brooklet (J Pritchard) 2-5 Fav, 2 Beyond the Stars (Miss E Phillips) 7-2, 3 Autcaesar Altnihil (M Munrowd) 501, 5 ran. Novice Riders 1 Father Tom (Miss C Allen) 10-11Fav, 2 Gentle Rivage (Miss G Emtage) 5-4, 3 Fanion de Neulliac (L Payter) 6-1, 6 ran. Restricted 1 Finne Gaothe (S Joynes) 10-1, 2 Chateau Burf (L Payter) 504 Fav, 3 Raymond James (D Mansell) 12-1, 9 ran. Mixed Open 1 Saint Reverien (A Wintle) 4-6 Fav, 2 Le Cure (J Barnes) 3-1, 3 Prince Dundee (Mrs B Keighley) 6-1, 6 ran. Intermediate 1 Springbrook Girl (A Wintle) 4-6 Fav, 2 Solar King (T Mann) 25-1, 3 Wind on the Common (T Stephenson) 7-1, 7 ran. 8-year-old Upward Maiden 1 Diamond Alpha (J Mahot) 2-1, 2 Bob Nickel (Mrs B Keighley) 7-4 Fav (Only two finished), 9 ran. 5-6-7 year old Maiden 1 Money Crazy (J Barnes) 4-1, 2 Regal Storm (G Barfoot Saunt) 5-2, 3 Mid Div and Creep (N Pearce) 20-1, 9 ran.