FIVE-YEAR-OLD grey Snow Leopardess (Charlie Longsdon/Aidan Coleman, 11st 1lb, 7/1 joint-favourite) took the honours in the Grade Two EBF & TBA Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Finale at Newbury on Saturday.

Taking up the running two flights from home, Snow Leopardess stayed on tenaciously to see off fellow 7/1 joint-favourite Copper Kay (Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson, 11st 7lb) by four lengths.

River Arrow (Tom Symonds/Jamie Moore, 10st 11lb, 25/1) was another length-and-a-half adrift in third with top-weight Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson, 11st 10lb, 9/1) a further three-and-three-quarter lengths back in fourth.

Coleman commented: “I got a lovely run round and she travelled brilliantly. The only bit of worry I had was three out when Noel’s horse (Lamanver Odyssey) looked to run out. To be fair to Snow Leopardess, she has courage and went on and did it well.

“She had a look around in front but is a really nice mare.

“To be fair to Charlie, if you look at her form, she has been campaigned brilliantly. She won a good bumper at Gowran and ran well in the mares’ race at Aintree last year.

“She loved the ground and is very versatile with everything she does. She has an amazing, laidback temperament and a great attitude.”

Devon-based trainer Nigel Hawke is enjoying his best-ever season and landed the £40,000 OCSL Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (3.35pm) with Deauville Crystal (10st 7lb, 9/1), who handed jockey Sean Bowen a 54/1 double on the day following his earlier success on Warriors Tale. She was his 23rd winner of 2016/2017.

The 2/1 favourite Don Bersy (Tom Symonds/Aidan Coleman, 11st 11lb) looked the likely winner two out but was passed after the last by both the winner and Timoteo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson, 11st 4lb, 14/1). The winning distance was two and a quarter lengths with a further two and three-quarter lengths back to third.