TOP TEAM KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK Venetia Williams and conditional jockey Brian Crowley, still fresh from a Chepstow double which included Welsh National hero Jocks Cross, were back among the winners at Taunton today. They enjoyed another double with victories from St Mellion Way in the Reindeer Novices` Handicap Hurdle and Posh Pearl in the concluding Doncaster Bloodstock Sales/EBF Mares` Only Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race. And Miss Williams was quick to relate a sad tale as St Mellion Way`s owner Herman Bond died over the Christmas period and pointing skywards she said poignantly: 'I hope Herman is up there looking down and has seen this horse win as he had been so patient with him.' Teenager Crowley made headway on the seven-year-old, who was coming back from a 195-day lay off, down the far side before taking the initiative two out and galloping clear of Master Russell. 'It`s really sad Herman`s not here to witness the win but his wife Rachel wanted the horse to run. It`s amazing but the horse has had so many problems as he split a pastern two years ago and has been plagued by things like that,' added Miss Williams. Hors La Loi, the horse at the centre of a forthcoming Jockey Club inquiry over his improved performance when scoring at Doncaster earlier this month, followed up with ease in the Christmas Pudding Conditional Jockeys` Handicap Hurdle. Partnered by Dave Dennis, the Ian Williams-trained four-year-old always travelled smoothly before hitting the front three out and beating My Galliano by nine lengths. But the rider was found guilty of using a mobile phone while aboard the winner and fined £50. An icy cold journey to the Somerset course interrupted by a puncture on the motorway could not wipe the smiles off the father and son team of Bernard and John Llewellyn after Mattan dug deep to lift the Hangover Selling Handicap Hurdle in a thrilling finish. The Llewellyn`s found their South Wales stable under six inches of snow but that could not deter them from making it to the races in the nick of time. It seems Mattan must have read the script as he pulled out all the stops for 3lb claimer Ollie McPhail to get the better of Treasure Chest and Another Chancer by a short head and the same. The success proved to be a family affair as John Llewellyn, who acts as assistant to his father, explained: 'The horse is owned by Emily Jones, who actually rode another horse - Handsome Anthony - in the race as she thought he had too much weight, and was bred by her father Will.' Philip Hobbs introduced an interesting newcomer to jumping when former decent Flat handicapper Just In Time proved good enough to take the Holly Tree Novices` Hurdle from Cupboard Lover despite making mistakes. However, the stewards were unhappy with Richard Johnson`s use of the whip on the winner and banned him for two days (Jan 8 and 9) for using his stick with excessive force. Odagh Odyssey made virtually all the running in the Ivy Novices` Handicap Chase for the combination of jockey Barry Fenton and trainer Emma Lavelle. The six-year-old eventually had seven lengths to spare over Vincent Van Gogh. Wedmore trainer Fred Tucker ended a year-long barren spell after Dunnicks View came to his rescue with a victory over Wot No Gin in the Mistletoe Handicap Chase.
