Home By Midnight, from Lynn Redman's Tetsworth stables, timed it just right to score at the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks Hunt meeting at a wintery Kimble on Saturday.

The nine-year-old was a length and a half down on Five Seven Live at the last fence in the ladies' open.

But Hannah Watson, substituting for regular rider Maxine Filby, who is in Malaysia, conjured up a flying finish from the mare to cut down the leader in the last 50 yards for a half-length victory.

Redman owns Home By Midnight with Tetsworth neighbour Maurice Thomas and Rosie Herrington, from Watlington.

Lord Brunello made it three wins from four starts for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill when finishing alone under champion rider James Tudor in the members' race.

Long Courier and Topol fell independently seven from home, and with Mariska's Token pulling up, the six-year-old, who is owned by Christopher and Carol, from Britwell Salome, came home in his own time.

Lambourn trainer Noel Chance, best known for winning two Cheltenham Gold Cups with Mr Mulligan and Looks Like Trouble, struck with his first point-to-point runner when Murphy's Cardinal proved too strong for Irilut in the men's open.

Tim Lane, the rider of Murphy's Cardinal, went on to complete a double aboard On Top in the restricted.

RESULTS Confined: 1 LONGVILLE LAD (H Kinchin) 11-2, 2 To The Top 2-1 fav, 3 Half Inch 7-1. Trainer: R Webb (Farmers Bloodhounds). Dist: 25l, 4l. 10 ran.

Ladies open: 1 HOME BY MIDNIGHT (H Watson) 9-2, 2 Five Seven Live 16-1, 3 Move Over 5-1. Trainer: L Redman (Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks). Dist: l, 10l. 9 ran.

Men's open: 1 MURPHY'S CARDINAL (T Lane) 7-4, Irilut Evens fav, 3 Wings Of Hope 12-1. Trainer: N Chance (Radnor & West Herefordshire). Dist: 7l, 25l. 4 ran.

Restricted: 1 ON TOP (T Lane) 5-1, 2 Marble Leader 6-4 fav, 3 Sounds Good 7-2. Trainer: F Hutsby (Warwickshire). Dist: 25l, 4l. 7 ran.

Open maiden: 1 PRIMORDIAL SOUP (R Morgan) 3-1 fav, 2 Maddie's Dream 25-1, 3 Up In The Sky 33-1. Trainer: J Richardson (Cotswold). Dist: 1l, dist. 16 ran.

Members: 1 LORD BRUNELLO (J Tudor) 8-11 fav. Finished alone. Trainer: A Hill (Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks). 4 ran.

THE Old Berkshire Hunt stage their popular meeting at Lockinge, near Wantage, on Monday (1.30).