SOUTHWESTERN won his second Cattistock Men’s Open and sixth race at Littlewindsor.

Neil Harris rode his usual initially patient race, but the pair were never in danger after taking the lead at the bottom of the final descent.

The 13-year-old, who has now won 26 of his 50 appearances for The Exmoor Partners since being purchased seven years ago, will now make his final appearance at Stratford on June 1, where he will seek a third win in the prestigious Horse & Hound Cup.

Seaborough handler Richard Barber landed a training double with My Minds Maid and Barneys Niece. My Minds Maid and Jack Barber walked over to retain the Batten Challenge Cup, awarded to the Hunt race winner. Barneys Niece, a ninth winner of the season for the Axe Valley Racing Club, led three out under Martin Cooney and held on in the 2m4f Maiden despite clambering over the last.

Richard Barber, now on the 42 winner mark for the season, said: “She’s from Barneys Mate’s family, so traces back to 1984 Grand Marnier winner, National Clover and Welsh Grand National winner, Clover Bud.

“I bought her at Doncaster as a three-year-old because of her relations, but also because she was cheap.” Jonathan Coles’ Double Bank put in a fine round of jumping for Merv Woodward to land the Restricted, although a last fence blunder caused some alarm. “Everyone else wants it to stop raining, but we’re delighted with the soft ground for him”, said Chudleigh trainer, Emily Oliver, making her first visit to the Dorset venue.

Championship-chasing Jane Williams travelled from Stourbridge to follow up her recent Woodford success aboard Nolan Byrne’s Citizens Arrest.

Josh Newman reached the five-winner mark in the Novice Riders’ race on Sobre Tresor.

No Excuses overcame a scare in the horsebox park to take the three-mile Maiden under trainer Sarah Gould.

The winner came from Ireland at the same time as Second Chance IV, who won the Wessex Area 148cm Pony Race Final earlier in the day.