KINGS Caple trainer Venetia Williams gave racing fans a home victory to cheer as Hereford Racecourse held their Christmas Jumper Raceday.

The Herefordshire trainer is enjoying a purple patch of form at the moment with a current 27 per cent, winners to runners rate with her latest success coming courtesy of Heva Rose.

Ridden by Harry Bannister in the extended three-mile Mares Handicap Chase Final, Heva Rose was sent off 5/2 favourite in the 11 runner contest, but she seemed destined for second place as her rival Presenting a Queen drew clear approaching the final fence.

Not giving up jockey Bannister balanced his mount and with Presenting a Queen tiring and drifting left on the run in he galvanised his mount and they stayed on resolutely to score by three lengths to keep up Williams’ remarkable record in the final, giving her victory in the last five runnings of the race.

The ex-point to pointer Handstands was well supported in the two mile three and a half furlong  novice hurdle to make a winning debut under rules.

The horse was opposed in the betting by the 10/11 favourite Parade Away but his supporters were able to count their winnings from a long way out.

Ridden by jockey Ben Jones, Handstands moved easily to challenge at the third from last hurdle before taking up the lead from the favourite approaching the final hurdle and drawing clear to win by six and a half lengths.

Bought for £135,000 after winning a point-to-point and, despite showing signs of inexperience trainer Ben Pauling was pleased.

Pauling commented: "He’s a really nice, straightforward horse. He doesn't do anything overly flash, but just does it very nicely at the same time.

“We hope this can be a nice starting point. We'll find another novice race under a penalty somewhere else next to see if we can think about better things."

The meeting had opened with a win for the Ludlow stable of Henry Daly when his Rockinastorm, ridden by Alice Stevens scored in the two-mile five-furlong Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase responding well to pressure after the second from last fence to outstay runner-up Supasunrise by four and a quarter lengths.

Whilst trainer Nicky Henderson was at Cheltenham his Call Me Lord defied top weight of 12 stone to make a winning return to the track in the two-mile three and a half handicap hurdle, defeating the Tom Lacey trained Lutrell Lad, who had led approaching the final hurdle to win by a length.