What a winner for LIzzie

Emerging 22-year old makes it a family day to remember in Newbury's big race

LIZZIE Kelly pulled off a stunning victory in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury this afternoon (Saturday) when storming to an 11 lengths victory over David Pipe’s Starchitect in the £155,000 featured race.

The first female jockey to win a grade one race, the 22-year old brought home the 16-1 shot ahead of a fancied field of 22 after overhauling Starchitect from three-out to make it a winning treble for the young rider and Yorkshire trainer and her stepfather, Nick Williams.

Letcombe’s Harry Whittington saddled the fourth-placed Affair D’honneur with Gavin Sheehan in the saddle, with Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Flyng Angel third.

The other featured race - the Betfair Exchange (Game Spirit) Chase - was won by Hereford trainer Kerry Lee when Richard Johnson took the 11-10 favourite to a comfortable win over the top weight, Paul Nicholls’ highly-rated Champion Chasers Dodging Bullets in a field of four after Nicky Henderson withdrew his L’Ami Serge.

The Betfair Denham Steeplechase, with the great horse himself in attendance, was won by Venetia Williams’ Houblon Des Obeaux under Aidan Coleman at 3-1 after finishing second to Coneygree in last year’s race.