Cotswold Cottage gives Henrietta Knight her first winner since returning to the training ranks

Henrietta Knight enjoyed her first winner since returning to the training ranks when Cotswold Cottage made a successful handicap debut.

Knight, best known for her exploits over jumps, including when saddling Best Mate to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups, announced her intention to return to training last November having retired from the sport in 2012 to care for her husband Terry Biddlecombe.

Cotswold Cottage was Knight’s 73rd runner of her second stint training and the 14-1 shot landed the second division of the 1m3½f handicap by three lengths.

Winning rider Nicola Currie had just turned three and John Major was prime minister when Knight sent out her last Flat winner – Stompin at Warwick in June 1996.

“I’ve been in there [Knight's yard] a couple of times recently and they’re such a great team,” Currie told Sky Sports Racing after her victory. “It’s also very special because the owner, Lucy Barry, is one of my best friends and her grandad [Colin Rogers] actually bred the horse.”

Doyle double 

Balmoral Lady defied a 3lb rise to follow up her victory at Bath in the the 5f handicap under Hollie Doyle, who secured a double on 7-4 favourite Artavian in the following race.

Brilliant Bama 

Bama Lama made the frame for her 13th consecutive start when recording her third course victory for Rod Millman and Oliver Searle in the 5f handicap.

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