Kevin Merry rolled back the years to claim victory aboard Pongo’s Nephew at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton.

The 48-year-old trainer-rider, from Murcott, near Bicester, took a break from the sport around 1996-97 after riding a couple of winners.

But, having acquired Pongo’s Nephew, he decided to give it a fresh crack and was rewarded as the eight-year-old gelding sprang a surprise in the members’ race at Sunday’s rearranged meeting.

Sent off the 10-1 outsider of the three runners, Merry’s mount was always at the head of affairs before pulling out a bit more to beat High Rank by a length and three-quarters after odds-on favourite Marble Leader refused at the 12th.

When asked where he had been since his earlier riding days, Merry, who owns Pongo’s Nephew in partnership with Bletchingdon farmers Chris and Sue Lane, said: “I have just been working with horses. I supply horse-drawn carriages for weddings, funerals and special occasions “I picked up this little horse last year and thought we would have a bit of fun with him. Not too many people know I am still riding, but they might do now!”

Mark Wall posted a first career treble aboard Frosty Spring, Mocho (open maiden) and Virginia Preuil (confined).

He had fortune on his side with his first success when he was awarded the confined maiden after finishing a two-and-a-half-length second on the Fergal O’Brien-trained Frosty Spring to Moscow Mule, who was disqualified after his rider, Peter Mann, weighed in 3lb light.

Lord Attica and Stuart Morris held off The Hookie Bookie to take the men’s open by three-quarters of a length.

And Derawar, who won the ladies’ open at the Heythrop meeting, repeated the feat under Lucy Jones.

Rustic John, trained by John Manners, took the intermediate in the hands of David Bass, beating Oranger and Hook Norton-based Andy Martin by half a length.

However, the race was marred by the death of the favourite Nuits St George, who suffered a fatal fall.

RESULTS

Members: 1 PONGO’S NEPHEW (K Merry) 10-1, 2 High Rank 2-1. Only 2 finished. Trainer: K Merry. Dist: 13/4l. 3 ran.

Confined maiden: 1 FROSTY SPRING (M Wall) 13-8 fav, 2 Slyne Head 9-4, 3 Mister Tibbs 10-1. Trainer: F O’Brien. Dist: 21/2l, 25l. 8 ran. Moscow Mule finished first, but was disqualified due to the rider failing to draw the correct weight – weighed in 3lbs light.

Ladies’ open: 1 DERAWAR (L Jones) 4-9 fav, 2 Aitchjayem 6-1, 3 Kharak 4-1. Trainer: S Jones. Dist: 12l, 1l. 5 ran.

Men’s open: 1 LORD ATTICA (S Morris) 5-4, 2 The Hookie Bookie 4-6 fav, 3 Taxi Fare 8-1. Trainer: B Clarke. Dist: 3/4l, 25l. 3 ran.

Open maiden: 1 MOCHO (M Wall) 2-1 fav, 2 No John No 5-2, 3 Shammy Buskins 4-1. Trainer: M Jones. Dist: 2l, 20l. 10 ran.

Intermediate: 1 RUSTIC JOHN (D Bass) 5-1, 2 Oranger 14-1, 3 Sheknowsyouknow 16-1. Trainer: J Manners. Dist: 1/2l, 20l. 8 ran.

Confined: 1 VIRGINIA PREUIL (M Wall) 11-8, 2 Sudden Arrival 8-13 fav, 3 Honourable Collins 9-1. Trainer: F O’Brien. Dist: 10l, dist. 3 ran.