Anthony Kelleway registered his first training success when Ursa Major (16 to 1 from 25 to 1) took Division One of the Leicestershire Claiming Stakes by four lengths from Yeoman Oliver at Southwell yesterday. Kelleway, son of Paul and brother to Gay, is maintaining a family tradition and has nine horses, including five two-yearolds, in his yard at Charnwood Stables, Newmarket.

Emma Ramsden, last season's lady rider amateur champion, began the defence of her title in sparkling fashion when partnering Muara Bay, the 9 to 4 favourite, to take the second division of the Lincolnshire Amateur Riders' Handicap in sparkling style by two lengths from Benjamins Law, for Epsom trainer Geoff Lewis.

Miss Ramsden (19), who rode eight winners in 1997 only to lose one in the stewards' room, said: "I will be trying my hardest to be champion again but I start a college course at Cambridge in Media and Business Studies in February and the majority of amateur rider races are run in the North.

"Muara Bay won well, never off the bridle really, my one worry was that I would hit the front too soon."