THE overnight rain that arrived at Milborne St Andrew softened the ground and provided for a test of stamina in the seven races at the South Dorset meet where 69 horses participated.

Jack Barber trained two winners with Ballyknock Cloud and Posh Totty, Tin Pot Man repeated his success in the Hunt race, Real Milan was the winner of a dramatic Men's Open race and Monsieur Gibraltar was an impressive winner of the Novice Riders' race.

The meeting began with a surprise 33-1 winner in the shape of Master Tradesman trained by Ces Mitford – Slade and ridden by Sean Houlihan.

Setting off in front in the two-and-a-half mile contest he held off the challenge of King Calvin by two and a half lengths.

Tin Pot Man easily supplemented his win in the Hunt race last season when taking this year’s renewal from his stablemate Lamb’s Cross.

The last named made much of the running under Ed Doggrell until his stamina faltered and allowed George Hiscock to saunter home untroubled to record a thirty length win.

The Open Maiden race over three miles provided the closest finish of the day with Ballyknock Cloud beating Carrignagapple by a head.

Always prominent the winner was headed between the last two fences by Carrignagapple ridden by Ed Doggrell but stayed on well to snatch the race in the final strides.

Bought by Jack Barber at Doncaster last May for £15,000 he is owned by a syndicate of six including Andy Pollard whose colours he ran in today. He was ridden by champion jockey Will Biddick who reported that the grey gelding will prefer a sounder surface to show his best form.

The Restricted race was won by the mare Fishy Story who ran on well to beat Tedspeed by two and a half lengths.

Another game mare in the shape of Posh Totty won a very competitive Ladies' Open race under Bryony Frost.

After tracking the leader Imperial Circus she took up the running on the final circuit and held off the determined challenge of the favourite Master Baker by three quarters of a length.

The Men's Open race looked at the mercy of the Jack Barber-trained Golden Hoof ridden by Will Biddick as he had a clear lead from Real Milan jumping the second last.

However, as they turned the final corner into the home straight Golden Hoof’s stride quickly shortened and as they approached the last Real Milan was upsides.

Golden Hoof then took a nasty looking fall from which he fortunately got up from and this left Real Milan to come home virtually alone.

The final race of the day the Novice Riders' race was won in emphatic style by Monsieur Gibraltar trained by Rose Loxton and ridden by Lorcan Williams.