Aston Rowant owner-trainer Alan Hill's eleventh hour decision to run Bering Gifts at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, reaped a handsome reward with a last-gasp victory.

Hill had planned to run Fauntleroy in the ladies' open at the Oxford University Hunt Club meeting.

But when his owner-rider, Camilla Ewart, decided the ground was too fast for her charge, he turned to his 13-year-old as a substitute.

Regular rider Emily Jarvis received a late call-up at her nearby Tetsworth home.

And the switch paid off as the combination made up a length and a half from the last fence to collar Green Finger in the dying strides by a short head.

It was Bering Gifts's seventh course and distance win, and Hill said tongue-in-cheek: "He is as honest as the day is long - it was never in doubt," before adding: "Full marks to Emily. She gave him a great ride."

Jarvis added, who has now won on three of the four occasions she has ridden the veteran, said: "I think he knows himself and does just what he thinks. I just keep going and do my best."

It completed a double for Hill in the first two races after To The Top took the opening confined.

The ten-year-old, who lost his way last season, jumped more fluently under champion rider James Tudor than Harum Scarum to beat his market rival by ten lengths.

Owner Pat Froud, from Wantage, said: "He just didn't seem himself last year. He was never happy, but he won five on the trot two years ago."

RESULTS Confined: 1 TO THE TOP (J Tudor) 2-1, 2 Harum Scarum 11-10 fav, 3 He's A Dinger 25-1. Trainer: A Hill (Old Berkshire). Dist: 10l, dist. 6 ran.

Ladies' open: 1 BERING GIFTS (E Jarvis) 8-11 fav, 2 Green Finger 10-1, 3 Lile Na Casca 5-2. Trainer A Hill (Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks). Dist: Sh hd, 6l. 7 ran.

Men's open: 1 THE HOOKIE BOOKIE (T Ellis) 1-3 fav, 2 Tanager 7-1, 3 Menantol 4-1. Trainer: J Tarry (Bicester with Whaddon Chase). Dist: 12l, 10l. 4 ran.

Intermediate: 1 DANTE'S STORM (P York) 1-4 fav, 2 Rustic John 25-1, 3 Arctic Summer 12-1. Trainer: P York (Staff College). Dist: 10l, 12l. 6 ran.

Restricted: 1 SILVER DOLLARS (P York) 9-4, 2 Parsifal 4-1, 3 Raleagh Choice 2-1 fav. Trainer: P York (Staff College). Dist: 2l, 10l. 8 ran.

Open maiden (5-7yo): 1 GOTHIC CHARM (D Mansell) 7-2 fav, 2 Port Talbot 4-1, 3 Checked Shirt 4-1. Trainer: R Shail (Ledbury). Dist: 8l, 1l. 14 ran.

Members: 1 ROBERTY BOB (O Garner) 2-7 fav, 2 Maybeseven 2-1. Trainer: K Baimbridge (Heythrop). Dist: 8l. 2 ran.