EXCELLENT going at Badbury Rings left many owners and trainers ruing their decision not to enter the meeting, the headline of which came as teenager Liam Harrison rode the first double of his career.

From a modest entry, 26 horses took part and it will be a day that 16-year-old Harrison will remember.

Harrison began the day at Badbury riding six-year-old mare Helford in the younger Maiden race.

With only two horses declared, the race turned into a tactical affair with The Winning Tipster ridden by Patrick O’Connor still leading until making a bad mistake at the third last and giving his rider no chance of remaining in the saddle.

Harrison secured his double in the following race, the Novice Riders, when the striking grey Apple’s Queen held off the challenge of De Boitron ridden by Kiana James-Thomas to win by seven lengths.

Previously a good third at Milborne St Andrew in March he was wearing a first time tongue tie which Nicky Turner, one of the joint owners, thought had helped him to see out the race well.

Tom Barton tried his hardest to give Harrison a treble on the day when making virtually all the running in the Mixed Open race.

He looked to still be the likely winner approaching the final fence but Lucy Mager had other ideas and galvanised Moscow Prices on the run in to secure a two-and-a-half lengths victory.

Milberry was a popular winner of the Restricted race for Piddletrenthide trainer Richard Mitchell. Ridden by Charlie Davies he had three lengths in hand at the winning post from nearest challenger Lawsons Thorns.

Lure Des Pres was a narrow winner by a neck of the Open Maiden when ridden by Nick Lawton and once again depriving Harrison, who was riding Phar Island, of a treble on the day.

Country Legend was a very easy winner of the Confined race for Tom Bishop.

She had 30 lengths in hand over the gallant Trueflyingcolours at the winning post having dominated the race once she got to the front.

Recording her third victory this season Tom advised that ‘she travelled well and put herself right at a couple of the fences cleverly’.

The plan had been to look for an Intermediate race and originally they had intended to go to Barbury Castle.

However, after the heavens opened and the ground eased, the Badbury option became the choice.