THE Sally Alner-trained Master Medic extended his unbeaten run to eight in the Royal Artillery Ladies Open.

The 13-year-old led three out before holding off persistent challenger Latest Trend (Bridget Andrews), who jumped the last upsides.

“He's like a fine wine, he just keeps getting better with age,” smiled jockey Emily MacMahon. “He certainly keeps putting manners on these young pretenders. I worked out the other day that Master Medic, Sally and I have a combined age of over 100, so it's not bad for three oldies.”

Minella Stars, owned and trained at Shaftesbury by Wincanton racecourse chairman Guy Henderson and ridden by son Robbie, got the better of Duc De Regniere in a slow motion finish to the Men's Open. The eight-year-old has now won two of his four points since being bought privately out of Paul Nicholls' yard in July.

Theatre Queen emerged as a leading candidate for the Coronation Gold Cup on February 8 after her impressive Conditions race success. The seven-year-old made most of the running under trainer Mark Wall before sprinting clear in the straight. Theatre Queen has now won four races and suffered her only defeat when third after starting slowly and losing 30 lengths at Wadebridge in December.

Paul Barber and David Martin's five-year-old debutant Ask The Weatherman (pictured in green) overcame a last fence stumble to take the first Maiden for the Richard Barber stable.

Cottenham runner-up Cold Knight went one better to provide a first Larkhill success for trainer-rider Tom Weston in the second Maiden.

Jack Barber, 22, notched his first training win when partnering Subtle Sovereign to success in the third Maiden. The grey is owned by Jack, Len Vickery and David Bennett, whose 10-year-old granddaughter, Jessica, designed the winner's silks based on her favourite purple and pink colours. A former pony race rider with over 50 career wins in point-to-points and under Rules, Jack has 14 horses at his parents' Jeremy and Sarah's Henley home near Crewkerne.

Harriet Besent returned from a nine-month absence, after breaking her collarbone, to retain the Hunt race trophy aboard Deimne.