Trainer Cynthia Woods secures dramatic first winner with 22-1 rank outsider

Friday: Warwick

Cynthia Woods landed her first winner in seven seasons – and her first with a full licence – when Glorious Lady, the 22-1 rank outsider in a field of five for the 3m mares' handicap chase, got up late under Tabitha Worsley to score by half a length from the Paddy Brennan-ridden Farne.

A three-time scorer over hurdles for Keith Dalgleish, Glorious Lady was winless in five starts for Woods and 14lb out of the handicap, but the eight-year-old made a mockery of her long odds to make the 300-mile round trip from Crowborough, East Sussex, worthwhile.

The trainer, who won a hunter chase at the track with Little Legend in 2014, said: "It's amazing. It's what we've been working towards and I'm so pleased it's this mare as well because she's thrown me a few challenges in her time, but I love her. When she first arrived she was pretty hot-headed to say the least.

"I've had the licence for just over a year. I trained and rode pointers for a long time before that and have had hunter chase winners."

It was a fitting result on Syndicates Day at Warwick, although no members of the successful Glorious Days Racing group were at the track to witness the landmark victory. Woods, who has four horses in training, joked: "Unfortunately none of them could make it, but we'll have to see if they're allowed again!

"They'll definitely be popping some champagne at some point and we'll be singing away in the lorry all the way home."

A large crowd enjoyed racing for a fiver at Warwick on the final weekday of half termCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Worsley, who was winning the race for the second year running, added: "I thought she'd run a big race and she stuck it out well. If she was in a big yard she might not have been off the same mark, but Cynthia has worked wonders with her. Fair play to Cynthia – that's her first winner under rules, so well done to her and all the team at home."

Brennan gained some compensation for his near miss on Farne when landing the closing bumper aboard Lutinebella, who made it third time lucky at the track for Fergal O'Brien following back-to-back runner-up finishes.

Happy Herbert

Also making a worthwhile trip was Milo Herbert, who travelled up from Exeter University on Thursday evening to steer the Matt Sheppard-trained One Fer Mamma to success in the 3m2f handicap hurdle for conditional and amateur jockeys.

The 20-year-old second year politics student was riding his third winner from just nine rides under rules, and said: "We've had horses with Matt since I was 16 and he was very kind to give me the spin. Between racing and hunting I do two or three trips up the M5 every week. It's a tank of fuel there and back, but it's worth it to ride out and go hunting."

Deutsch delivers

Charlie Deutsch survived a scare at the start before guiding odds-on favourite Espoir De Guye to victory in the feature 2m4f handicap chase.

The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old, who holds an entry in the Plate at next month's Cheltenham Festival, was running for the first time since finishing second in the same race last year.

Espoir De Guye (right) is about to pass Alnadam in the 2m4f handicap chase at WarwickCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

A relieved Deutsch said: "I think he just nipped left when the tape went back. He's a bit quirky and was just a bit fresh and silly.

"My right leg came out the iron and then both legs were over one side and I thought I could be going, but luckily I pulled him back round and then we were off."

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