Exeter-based amateur scores a double at New Year’s Day meeting

Exeter-based amateur Lucy Gardner, 30, took the riding honours at Exeter Racecourse today where 4,000 people turned out to celebrate the New Year.

Lucy is well known on the Devon and Cornwall point-to-point circuit having been crowned the area champion on several occasions, but her prowess against professionals is also undisputed and already this season she has booted home six winners.

Both today's winners, Storm Alert and Flying Award, are trained at Longdown near Exeter by her mother Sue Gardner who has trained 16 this season, four more than her previous best ever total.

 “It’s been incredible and the horses are all so well at the moment. It couldn’t be a better start to 2013 for us. We’ve had an incredible day,” said Mrs Gardner.

Storm Alert got the ball rolling in the Billy Williams Memorial Novices’ Handicap Hurdle where he took up the running two flights from home holding off the challenge of Ripoff who couldn’t quite get on terms with the winner up the run-in.

“He’s a gutsy little horse. We bought him as a three-year-old after no one wanted him at the sales in Ireland as he’s so small. Everyone loves in the yard,” said Mrs Gardner.

The pair doubled up in the Bathwick Tyres Handicap Chase with reformed character Flying Award taking up the lead approaching the last and winning by four lengths.

Mrs Gardner said: “When we first ran him as a maiden in a point-to-point at Upcott Cross he had to be ridden for two hours in a hunting saddle in the car park, and then for another half an hour in a racing saddle. He went down to the start early and eventually pulled up but Lucy said that day that he’d given her a really feel.”