HORSE RACING: A trainer and her horse galloped away with a prestigious title at Stratford Racecourse.

Helen Needham was delighted to see seven-year-old Philtre triumph with top amateur jockey Adrian Wintle in the Wetherbys Champion Novices Hunters Steeplechase.

Philtre has previously performed well at Cheltenham along with Needham's other horse Forest Fountain, 10, both picking up third places.

Broome-based Needham, 31 and a trainer permit holder for two years, said: "It's the fourth largest prize in the Hunters Chase calendar so I'm very pleased.

"It's been going well lately but you don't quite know what will happen until the day of the competitive race."

The foot and mouth crisis had hampered Needham's plans as she previously ran four horses in point-to-point races.

The two horses she now runs are owned by her father Jim Callow and husband Philip, while Ledbury-based Wintle is often the jockey.

Needham added: "We sell fuel for a living, tractor diesel to farms, and we didn't feel we could be seen going racing and then delivering onto farms.

"But since then we've had some nice results and put in a lot of hard work.

"There are greater rewards now. Rather than £150 for the first prize, I'm now looking at £12,000 for the year and I'm pleased to pick that up!"

The next racing action for the Broome stable could be Worcester in late June or Uttoxeter on July 1.