Kevin O'Ryan (19), from Kildare, rode his first winner in England when Native Shore (11-2) took the Langstone Novices' Hurdle at Fontwell yesterday by a length and a quarter from Laazim Afooz.
O'Ryan joined Charlie Mann five weeks ago as the stable amateur, and his mother, Sheila, who flew from Dublin to Gatwick, was there to see him score.
Native Shore took up the running two flights out and then had a battle with the runner-up all the way up the run-in.
Test batsman David Gower's gelding Harrow Way landed the Frank Cundell Handicap Chase. But the ace cricketer turned commentator failed to witness the success, as he was in London attending a social event.
The seven-year-old took up the lead at the eighth fence in the two mile, three furlong event and strode away under Adrian Maguire to win by three and a half lengths from Gabish.
Carrie Zetter-Welles, wife of winning trainer Lawrence Welles said: "I have been a great friend of David's Icelandic wife, Thorrun, for a long time and nagged them into having a horse with us."
Eugene Husband, 24, recorded his 50th career win on Saucy Nun in the opening Tangmere Novices' Claiming Hurdle for permit holder Peter Hiatt. He now needs 15 more winners to lose his 3lb claim.
