HEREFORDSHIRE trainer Kerry Lee took the plaudits at Hereford Racecourse when her short-priced favourite, Kestrel Valley scored with promise in the three-mile-one-furlong novices handicap chase, but not without an injury to Lee pre-race.

In making her second start for the Byton trainer Kestrel Valley played up leaving the paddock and caused the trainer a painful blow causing Lee to hit the ground and suffer a face injury. 

In the race the nine-year-old made amends for the pre-race antics with an impressive round of  jumping , drawing clear from the front at the third last fence to score under jockey Sam Twiston-Davies by 34 lengths.

Lee explained to the press and Sky Sports Racing: "It's not her fault at all, it's just an occupational hazard sometimes. She was having a think about going out on to the course and I tried to lead her on. She basically launched and took me with her and I hit the rubber tarmac – with your cheekbone, it can hurt a bit.”

The win of Kestrel Valley gave Lee a boost also as the win moved her past last season's total of 18 winners and of the inner she confirmed: “We've just got to wait and see what happens, but it's really good to get a filly like this who's on an upward curve

The win of Spirits Bay in the concluding Bumper race was also well received as the winning trainer was Nigel Twiston-Davies, but was bred in partnership by ex-champion jockey Richard Johnson and ex-amateur rider, now trainer Adrian Wintle.

Sam Bellamy was always close up under jockey Finn Lambert but once he asked him to lengthen Spirits Bay drew clear of the 5/4 favourite Heros de Romay and won comfortably by nine and a half lengths.

Trainer Venetia Williams also scored a welcome winner for her Kings Caple yard when the French  bred Jikala was a short head winner in the two-mile maiden hurdle for conditional jockey Ned Fox, battling on strongly to score by a short head by Evens favourite Charles St.