THE recent heavy rain was just what the doctor ordered for Venetia Williams as she recorded a win at Hereford Racecourse yesterday.

The Kings Caple trainer had been reluctant to send out runners on ground deemed not soft enough, but with the rain has come three recent winners.

Her latest success was with Super Sam, who won the three-mile Bet365 Handicap Hurdle.

The rain softened ground at the track was ideal for the top weighted Super Sam and in the hands of jockey Charlie Deutsch the partnership was always to the fore.

The cruised to the front approaching the second from last hurdle before drawing away easily to score by eleven lengths.

“Obviously I wanted to get on the score sheet at my local course now that it’s open for business again and I couldn’t be more happy the horse has won," said Williams.

Owner John Timpson added: “I’ve not been to Hereford for what seems and age but the last time I was here with my late wife Alex, we had a winner”.

This was the third runner of Timpsons in the past five days, resulting in two wins and a runner-up.

Memories of the late Peter Sellers were to the fore in the second division of the two mile three furlong novices hurdle as Doesyourdogbite, by the sire Notnowcato, was a smooth four and a half length winner at the surprising odds of 25/1.

A winner last time out, the Jonjo O’Neill trained four year old swept through the field in the hands of jockey Richie McLernon to upset a number of well-thought of hurdlers.

The first division of the novices hurdle was won in imposing style by the Harry Fry trained Acting Lass who, making his racecourse debut, won in the style of a very promising horse.

Held up early by jockey Noel Fehily, Acting Lass cruised through the field and, after leading at the second last hurdle, cruised home an eleven length winner.

Fehily said afterwards: “He’s a big lad and was very green early , however he has kept going when the race fell apart a bit in the ground and he should go on from here”.

The Bet365 Conditional Jockeys training series Handicap Chase saw a career first win for nineteen year old jockey Cian Maher aboard the Evan Williams trained Copper Birch.

Maher belied his in-experience with a well judged ride giving his mount plenty of time to settle and despite a slight mistake at the second last fence came clear to win by seven lengths from runner-up Northandsouth.