THE stable of Kings Caple trainer Venetia Williams has begun to hit from over recent days and she was on hand at Hereford Racecourse on Tuesday to witness the success of her Cuban Pete in the two mile five furlong handicap chase.

Cuban Pete was a winner over hurdles previously on the course last season and in the hands on jockey Charlie Deutsch was always travelling well in the field of 11 runners, taking up the running at the fourth last fence.

A bad stumble by his nearest pursuer Apple Mack confirmed the result and Deutsch was able to push his mount out for a cosy two and a quarter length win.

A delighted Venetia Williams said: “I’m really pleased he’s done it well and that’s a double on the day as our runner at Plumpton, Penny Mallow has also won."

Jockey Ben Jones scored a treble at the last meeting and he carried on that form at the track again when scoring for trainer Debra Hamer in the opening extended three mile conditional jockeys hurdle aboard Layerthorpe.

Making all Jones and Layerthorpe seemed to have it all to do at the final hurdle when challenged by Master Tradesman, but Jones rallied his mount and Layerthorpe took the honours by a neck.

Performance of the day came from Olly The Brave, who was sent off the even money favourite in the two mile novices hurdle and he who won by four and a half lengths in the hands of Harry Skelton.

Trainer, and brother of the jockey, Dan Skelton whose stable has been slower to hit form than last season is now seeing winners coming in regularly.

He said: “I'm really happy with that, he jumped nicely and he put up an improved performance and hopefully can build on that."

Jockey Johnathan Burke has been hitting form over recent meetings both in the UK and his native Ireland and he teamed up with Gloucestershire trainer Tom George to partner his Darling Du Large in the two mile mares handicap hurdle .

Darling Du Large never gave his supporters any doubts as the 6/1 shot was always travelling smoothly in the hands of Burke and once he asked his mount to stretch they drew clear after the third last hurdle and went on to score by six easy lengths from the chasing Passing Dream and Sea Story.