Lizzie Kelly celebrates first winner since retiring with well-backed 11-2 shot

The Valentine Bloodstock silks of former Grade 1-winning jockey Lizzie Kelly and her husband Ed Partridge were in the winner’s enclosure for the first time after Hamilton Dici justified a big market move in the juvenile hurdle.

Hamilton Dici, trained by Jane Williams, was backed into 11-2 joint-second favourite (from 33) and showed the benefit of experience from a run in France to prevail by a head under Chester Williams.

Watch Hamilton Dici's win at Warwick on Thursday

Kelly quit the saddle in July to focus on starting a family and Hamilton Dici capped a memorable couple of weeks for the married couple, who are mixing their bloodstock venture with parenthood after the recent birth of their son Hugo Phillip.

Hamilton Dici (Chester Williams) claims victory in the 2m juvenile maiden hurdle at WarwickCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images/Pool)

Jockey Chester Williams, son of the winning trainer, said: “He’s a really smart horse. He’s a big baby but jumped well in front and the other horse coming to him approaching the last helped him.

“It was a learning experience but he did it well and is a first winner for Lizzie and Ed’s Valentine Bloodstock. They’ve had a second at Exeter too so they’ve made a really good start and he’s just the type of horse you need to get started.

'It's been a dream' – Lizzie Kelly quits the saddle to start family

“We knew he was a nice horse and he ran in a good quality race in France. We’ve always thought a lot of him and he’s a nice prospect.

“Mum has three or four really nice juvenile hurdlers to go to war with and he’s up there with them. He’s a three-mile chaser in the making but it was just ability that won him the race opposed to him being a forward juvenile type.”

Zambella zooms in

Zambella proved the class act in the feature Wigley Group Lady Godiva Chase by giving weight and a beating to some good quality mares.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old, owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, sealed back-to-back Listed wins under Daryl Jacob.

Zambella and Daryl Jacob clear the last on their way to victory in the Listed Lady Godiva Mares' Novices' Chase at WarwickCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images/Pool)

Jacob said: “Zambella is a good jumper but just occasionally lacks a bit of concentration mid-race. It was a good performance stepping up in trip and giving weight away as there were some good mares in the race. She stayed on nicely and is versatile.

“She's a good mare and proved that over hurdles. She's getting a bit older and wiser and hopefully we can place her in the right races through the season.”

Murtagh off mark

Conditional Lorcan Murtagh rode his first winner for new boss Harry Fry aboard impressive bumper winner Might I.

Murtagh was previously based with Donald McCain but joined the Dorset yard two months ago and struck on his sixth ride for Fry in a bumper won by Barters Hill and Willoughby Court since 2014.

Murtagh said: “Might I gave me a lovely feel and did everything the right way. I got there too soon but he was very professional. I'd ridden him a bit at home and he doesn't show you an awful lot of boot, but he's come alive here and is clearly pretty talented.

“It’s good to get my first winner for Harry and it’s been going well since moving down.”

Read more on Lizzie Kelly:

'It was ruining my day, talking utter rubbish about being a girl' (Members' Club subscribers)

Three of the best: Lizzie Kelly's greatest moments in the saddle

Lizzie Kelly took racing to a new audience and it would be good to see her again (Members' Club subscribers)

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