MONSIEUR Gibraltar capped an impressive return to pointing with victory in the Skinner’s Pet Foods Ladies’ Open at Larkhill Racing Club.

A very competitive day’s racing saw 89 horses take part in seven races on good going.

The Ladies’ Open was a high quality race and after Sonneofpresenting had run out in the lead at the seventh fence the race developed into a battle between Southfield Theatre, ridden by Lily Bradstock, and Monsieur Gibraltar.

The latter, who was the leading horse at Larkhill last season, showed an impressive turn of foot to draw clear on the run in and won by eight lengths.

Stellar Notion was making his point-to-point debut in the Men’s Open race for new trainer Tom Frost and he duelled all the way with rival Abricot de L’Oasis, ridden by Freddie Henderson.

Staying on well for rider Jack Andrews he had a length and a half to spare at the winning post with favourite Shotavodka, ridden by Tommie O’Brien, another four lengths back.

Marcle Ridge made virtually all of the running to win the Conditions Race for owner Clive Bennett and his trainer/jockey Sam Jukes.

Despite being challenged by both Portrait King and Knockaderry Flyer he stayed on very gamely on the run to record a victory by a length.

Bennett’s first-ever home-bred double was completed when his Miss Seagreen got up to deny Ballyjim in the First Division of the Maiden race.

The Second Division of the Maiden was a very dramatic event with 15 horses starting the race but only four finishing.

The race appeared to be between Earth Leader, ridden by Bryan Carver, and Mankala, with Nick Phillips on board, and when Earth Leader blundered and unseated his rider at the third last fence it seemed the race was at Mankala’s mercy.

However, he unseated his rider at the next fence leaving Silver Louna, ridden by Will Biddick, in the lead.

But, as her stride shortened after the last, Ryan Withey urged his mount Hello Jazz to the front to provide an unlikely outcome to the race.

A very open-looking Restricted race contested by 16 horses was won by Coco Live, owned by Harriet Waight and Stan Rawlins and ridden by Jack Savage.

This was his second ever point-to-point victory but has 12 wins under rules during his professional career.

Finally, the Novice Riders’ race was won in a tight finish by Storm Lantern.