CAMILLA Henderson celebrated a hat-trick of successes at Lockinge – but admitted yesterday’s triumph was “very lucky”, writes MARK EDWARDS.

The daughter of National Hunt champion trainer Nicky looked booked for second place in the opening members’ race at the Cazenove Capital Old Berkshire Hunt meeting.

But Gizzit, some 20 lengths ahead at the final fence, suffered a tired fall, leaving Henderson and Medieval Chapel to come home alone in energy-sapping conditions.

The duo had teamed up to win the same race two years ago, but after 18 months off with injury, the ten-year-old horse had struggled to recapture the same sparkle.

“He’s not been at all enthusiastic since coming back from injury,” said the winning rider, who lives in Stanford in the Vale.

“We were really struggling at the second last and obviously we have been very lucky to win, but you’ve got to jump the fences and today was more about endurance.”

The victory completed a third win at the meeting after the jockey partnered Geos to success in 2006.

And with her father watching on, the win was particularly satisfying.

“It does make it extra special because it’s not often my dad has the chance to watch me,” she said.

Nicky Henderson, owner of the horse, added: “I get very nervous watching Camilla – as nervous as I do watching my horses at some of the big meetings.

“I used to lead my father’s horses around Lockinge when I was a kid so have been coming here for about 60 years now.”

Although the weather put many off, the event always attracts a number of horse racing aficionado’s, with television presenters Luke Harvery and Alice Fox-Pitt among those in attendance, along with trainers Tim Vaughan, Hughie Morrison and Henrietta Knight joining Nicky Henderson in supporting the meeting.

And those who did brave the elements were treated to some terrific finishes.

The complexion of the feature mixed open race changed in the final 50 yards, with Abricot De L’Oasis looking nailed on for victory for Faringdon-based trainer James Henderson.

However, the favourite idled badly on the run-in, almost parting company with jockey Freddie Henderson, allowing Beat The Tide to secure an unlikely half-length success for jockey Ben Robarts, who had travelled up from Devon.

The conditions race provided a first victory for Victoria Sollitt, a Royal Navy employee from Tewkesbury, whose 11-year-old Spanish Arch stayed on well to run out a wide-margin winner.

Odds-on favourite Tempelpirate gave backers a real scare in the conditions race for veteran and novice riders, but got up in the final 50 yards for Phil York.

Mistercobar won the penultimate restricted race for trainer Fred Hutsby, while the closing maiden went to Howard Pauling’s Whin Park.