HANLEY Swan trainer Andy Hobbs sent out his first winner of the season at Upton-upon-Severn.

He said: “We’ve had several near-misses and I would have been worried if this one had got beaten.”

But there was never any likelihood of that after Alistair Ralph sent Jaunty Times to the front as they raced along the riverside for the final time.

This was the first winner for Leigh Sinton-based Mo Costello who purchased the winner out of Henry Daly’s yard on the advice of the rider, who works at the trainer’s Ludlow stables.

My Way De Solzen had won an Arkle and Ladbrookes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the past and on that form looked to have a tremendous chance in the Confined.

Others were preferred in the betting, however, but given his mount’s past form, Ryan Mahon set out to make it a thorough test of stamina. Those tactics reaped dividends when the 10-year-old proved too strong for his rivals over the final three fences.

Princess Fyona enhanced her growing reputation with a four-length success in the Restricted in the hands of David Mansell and she is destined to go to the sales later in the year. William Somers landed the Mixed Open prize for his Berkeley-based owner-trainer, Tim Sage. Dammam then continued the fine run of Fergal O’Brien’s Naunton stable by making mincemeat of his rivals in the concluding Maiden. Ross-on-Wye trainer Maz Scudamore took the Mares Maiden with Bounds and Leaps, a horse that she bred herself.