TREBLE national champion jockey Will Biddick and trainer Jack Barber combined for a double with Conditions race winner Subtle Sovereign and Men’s Open winner Benedictus at Larkhill’s 2015 point-to-point opener.

Among the 112 from the 144 entries that went to post, Subtle Sovereign raced alongside runner-up Kazuri Kate (Claire Hart) throughout before asserting over the final three fences.

“He was my first winner as a trainer, last as a jockey and this is his third win here,” smiled Barber.

Benedictus gave his new owners immediate success when benefiting from a vintage holdup ride to lead from Perfectly Willing (Mark Wall) and 6/4F Quinz (Joe Hill) approaching the last.

Barber and Biddick’s hopes of a treble were dashed when Ask The Weatherman’s renewed effort in the first Restricted was denied by Native Pride and jockey Max Kendrick, who had rerouted from Plumpton.

“Pauline and Denis [Moylan] bought Native Pride at Doncaster in May,” said Brackley trainer Joan Johnston, who rode King Neon to win the prestigious John Corbet Cup hunter chase in 1987. “He’s my first winner for some time – too long between drinks anyway – but £8,000 looks a bit of a bargain now.”

Icthec and Jepeck followed their wins at the season’s Black Forest Lodge opener by dead-heating in the second Restricted. Peter Mason’s mount, Icthec, looked to have sealed victory with the better jump at the last, but Jamie Thomas drove Jepeck back alongside to share the spoils on the line.

The Waley-Cohens’ homebred Storm Lantern followed up his easy December course success in equally emphatic style in the second Conditions race. Patiently ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen, Storm Lantern led on the bridle two out before trotting up ahead of his ten rivals.

Current Event will be aimed at the Cheltenham or Aintree Foxhunter after recording his seventh successive win in the AGA Ladies Open.

Pacesetter Posh Totty still led by two lengths at the last but had no answer when Bryony Frost pressed the button aboard Current Event.

Simply Charles held on to take the first Maiden for Redmarley owner-trainers John and Hilary Parrott.

“Bought as a foal [at Tattersalls Ireland November 2007 National Hunt Sale], very easy to do at home, schools regularly including twice this week, jumps well and could go hunter chasing,” summed up Parrott.

Fred and Caroline Hutsby have a nice prospect on their hands after Vertical Glen showed the benefit of a soft palate operation by sprinting home under Tom Ellis in the second Maiden.

The next point-to-point meeting is on a week Saturday at Royal Artillery. First race at 11.35am.