Ocean Du Moulin sparkled in the sunshine to land the Southern Grand National mixed open for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill, and his jockey son, Joe, at the Kimblewick Hunt meeting at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, writes ROBIN GRAY.

The 11-year-old was third to Rumbavu at Lockinge on a cold Easter Monday on his last start.

But he thrived in the warmer conditions to run out a five-length winner from Cheyanwe in the four-mile event.

Joe said: “He was so reluctant last time he ran, but it was a dull day. He loves the sunshine and he was a totally different horse today.”

There was a first win from six rides for 17-year-old Laura Jenkins on Sizing America, trained by Sally Randell at Hatford, near Stanford in the Vale, in the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders’ Association members’ race for veteran and novice riders.

An easy five-length success over the Hill-trained Alpha Native had Jenkins beaming as she unsaddled the horse, who had finished sixth in the Aintree Foxhunters on his last start.

“That is the first time I’ve got round,” said the teenage rider. “My previous rides were on the horse I had for Pony Club and events and he wasn’t really up to the job.

“Riding Sizing America was in another league and it has really boosted my confidence.”

Gunner Road, trained by Tom Lacey at Pudlicote, near Chipping Norton, came out on top in a close finish to the open maiden over two miles and five furlongs.

Sam Drinkwater’s mount snatched a half-length success from Milly Malone, with Classic Destiny a length behind in third.

Shane O’Keefe’s drive from Cheshire to ride Towering Run for Chris Loggin, who trains at Hinton-in-the-Hedges, near Brackley, was rewarded with a win in the confined.

The combination scored comfortably from Bit Of A Clown.

Amanda Bush rode her fourth winner of the season when John Daniell scored in a desperate finish to the PPORA members’ conditions race.

Dunara Castle, trained by Fred Hutsby at Ettington, near Stratford, took the other open maiden in the hands of Tom Ellis, while the restricted went to Duke Special, ridden by David Mansell for owner-trainer Hannah James.

RESULTS

Confined: 1 TOWERING RUN (S O'Keefe) 14-1, 2 Bit Of A Clown 9-4, 3 Cloneen Storm 7-1. Dist: 2½l, 12l. Trainer: C Loggin. 8 ran.

PPORA Club members conditions: 1 JOHN DANIELL (A Bush) 6-4 fav, 2 Firmount Beech 7-2, 3 Avesomeofthat 11-2. Trainer: O Bush. Dist: ¾l, 2l. 9 ran.

Open maiden: 1 GUNNER ROAD (S Drinkwater) 4-1 jt fav, 2 Milly Malone 6-1, 3 Classic Destiny 8-1. Trainer: T Lacey. Dist: ½l, 1l. 13 ran.

PPORA Club members (veteran & novice riders): 1 SIZING AMERICA (L Jenkins) 7-4, 2 Alpha Native 11-10 fav, 3 Gripit N Tipit 14-1. Trainer: S Randell. Dist: 5l, 3l. 5 ran.

Southern Grand National mixed open: 1 OCEAN DU MOULIN (J Hill) 3-1, 2 Cheyanwe 4-1, 3 Shammy Buskins 7-4 fav. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: 5l, 3l. 7 ran.

Open maiden: 1 DUNARA CASTLE (T Ellis) 4-5 fav, 2 Earl Grez 6-1, 3 Cooleys Flyer 6-1. Trainer: F Hutsby. Dist: 8l, 12l. 8 ran.

Restricted: 1 DUKE SPECIAL (D Mansell) 7-1, 2 Fermat 8-1, 3 Boddington Lad 10-1. Trainer: H James. Dist: 12l, 15l. 8 ran.