'Things are starting to look up' - Small Present has Sue Smith eyeing a revival

Sue Smith is hoping for a change in fortunes in what has proved a tough season and Small Present provided the Grand National-winning trainer with a first winner in just over a month in the feature 3m1½f handicap hurdle.

The six-year-old survived an error at the second last, which saw Ryan Mania make a fine recovery in the saddle, to gamely win by a head and provide Smith with an eighth winner of the campaign, who admitted the quiet spell has been challenging.

"We haven't had a great season but sometimes these things happen, but we're keeping positive and things are hopefully starting to look up now," Smith said.

"He's a tough little fella and he's done it quite well. That [mistake] is all part of racing and with a good jockey on board, I knew he'd do a fantastic job. He managed to do enough but that was his first time at the trip and the ground didn't suit, he battled all the way."

The feature race of the day was sponsored by Kingmaker Racing and Mary Harle, who celebrated her landmark 101st birthday.

Family fortune

Trainer William Bethell celebrated his first jumps winner since 1996 when Newberry New obliged in the 2m3f handicap chase.

The victory was made even sweeter for Bethell, who returned to training after his daughter Harriet suffered serious head injuries in a fall at her yard in 2019, as the nine-year-old was ridden to success by his godson Harry Bannister.

Excellent result

The Micky Hammond-trained Ex S'Elance was backed into 4-1 (from morning best-price of 16) and landed the 2m3½f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle with a last-gasp victory under Aidan Macdonald.

Results, replays and analysis

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