CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon saddled Western Miller to produce a career-best performance on his seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter.

Running for the first time since winning at Doncaster in January, the nine-year-old jumped well at the head of affairs in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase under Paul O’Brien to score by six lengths from Mercian Prince.

O’Brien had got off the mark for the season at Stratford two days earlier when the Longsdon-trained Jamacho repeated his recent course and distance win.

The six-year-old, owned by Robert Aplin and Stratford Racecourse, again showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in an extended two-mile handicap hurdle to pass the post five lengths ahead of Right Destination.

On the same card, Alex Hales’s Edgcote stables, near Banbury, landed a 6-1 double with Hiconic and For Pleasure.

Hiconic (11-10 favourite) scooted clear to complete a hat-trick of juvenile hurdle wins with an eight-and-a-half-length success under Will Kennedy, before For Pleasure (9-4) romped home by 22 lengths in an extended

two-mile handicap hurdle with Harry Bannister in the saddle.

On the Flat, The First King sprang a 50-1 surprise at Sandown for Paul and Oliver Cole’s Whatcombe stables, near Wantage.

A tailed-off last of nine behind Mishriff at Newmarket last time out, the three-year-old bounced back to form to deny Enemy by a short head in a mile-and-two-furlong handicap in the hands of Cieren Fallon.

East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison struck at the same meeting with Geranium, who bolted up by three-and-a-quarter lengths in a

ten-furlong handicap under Dane O’Neill.

Sandown proved a happy hunting ground later in the week for Heather Main’s Kingston Lisle yard, near Wantage, when Colonel Whitehead caused a 22-1 upset in a seven-furlong handicap with Ellie Mackenzie on board.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Blewbury stables, near Didcot, were also among the winners when Alezan opened her account in a mile classified stakes at Bath in the hands of Georgia Dobie.