A family friendship led to amateur rider Rachel King posting her first winner under National Hunt Rules with a thrilling last-gasp success aboard Brer Bear at Newbury, writes Russell Smith.

The 18-year-old, from Waterperry, near Thame, had known Emma and Charles Insley, who live at Fernham, near Faringdon, through the hunting and point-to-point scene since she was a young girl.

So when King, who works for top National Hunt trainer Alan King (no relation), became old enough it was a natural progression that they asked her to ride Brer Bear – their only racehorse – as he returned from injury this season.

And the story had a fairy-tale ending as the teenager, who has ridden point-to-point winners, got off the mark at the eighth attempt under Rules.

Brer Bear looked booked for second place jumping the last fence in the Montpelier Re Hunters’ Chase, but the ten-year-old finished with a real flourish to pip odds-on favour-ite Dante’s Storm by a neck at 14-1.

“It was amazing,” said King. “They were kind of expecting him to be in the first three, but when he won they were pretty shocked and so was I.

“It was great because they are family friends. They have been really good to me.”

Emma Insley added: “It was fantastic. It makes all the work worthwhile when it goes right.”

Former point-to-point champion James Tudor produced a heroic display to score on Jackella for Aston Rowant trainer Lawney Hill at Stratford.

His saddle started to slip as he turned for home in the novices’ handicap chase, and Tudor kicked his feet out of the irons before driving his mount home by three-quarters of a length.

Moving from National Hunt’s grass roots, it’s one of Flat racing’s biggest days of the year on Saturday when West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon saddles Youmzain in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

The six-year-old has finished third and fifth in the $5m Group 1 contest at Nad Al Sheba in the last two years.

And Channon believes the dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up is a worthy ante-post favourite to make it third time lucky.

Speaking from Dubai, he said: "His form is in the book. I am very happy with him. We have had a very good preparation.

"I was here two or three weeks ago and he worked very well and he has continued to do so. He is a talented horse and I think we have as good a chance as anyone."

Meanwhile, Channon will aim Dunes Queen at one of the recognised trials for the 1,000 Guineas after she ran out a smooth winner on her reappearance at Kempton.

Hook Norton trainer Peter Hiatt also enjoyed success on the all-weather circuit when Very Well Red landed an apprentice handicap at Lingfield under Toby Atkinson.