Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore made her first visit to Huntingdon Racecourse a memorable one by riding the winner of the feature race on Winter Ladies Day.

County Carlow trainer ‘Shark’ Hanlon, who is increasingly targeting prize money in Britain, was also sending his first runner to the local track and it proved to be a memorable trip last Saturday when Baby Jake struck by a short head at 4-1 in the Cambridge Magazine Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle.

It was an afternoon in which favourite backers were left disappointed as the jolly failed to land the spoils in any race on the card.

Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham sent out Miss Spent to take the opening Pamela Lawrence-Teulon 50th Birthday Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, while there was a real upset in the Peter Laflin 60th Birthday Celebration National Hunt Maiden Hurdle with Finula a 50-1 winner.

Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has a tremendous record with his horses at Huntingdon and Tagrita obliged at odds of 6-1 in the Brian Stone 50th Birthday Celebration EBF TBA Mares’ Novices’ Chase.

Other winners were Trojan Star (11-2) in the Thrift Energy ‘Energy Savings And More’ Confined Handicap Chase; Tommy The Rascal (6-1) in the Cambridge News & Media Handicap Hurdle; and Glen Forsa (3-1) in the closing 1st Security Solutions Ltd Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The focus now shifts to the track’s biggest race with the Betfred Peterborough Chase on Sunday, December 4.

Tickets for the Main Enclosure are on sale for Betfred Peterborough Chase day at http://huntingdon.thejockeyclub.co.uk, starting from £18 in advance (£20 on the day). Accompanied children aged 17 years and under are admitted free of charge – and it’s half-price entry for young adults aged between 18 and 24 years who register at RacePass18to24.co.uk.