Lieutenant Lucy Horner, a soldier serving in Northern Ireland, was the centre of attention at Sandown today.
The 23-year-old, a platoon commander in the Royal Irish Regiment, became the first woman to ride the winner of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup when making all the running on Noyan, the 2-1 favourite.
Noyan already had the race in safe keeping when Spring To Glory, his closest pursuer, fell at the second last, leaving him to score by 20 lengths from Alska. Ironically Spring To Glory was ridden by Noyan's owner, Major Simon Robinson.
Miss Horner was given the day off by the Army for her trip to Sandown. She was due to return to the province tonight.
She said: "I'm very lucky to be given time off."
Miss Horner, originally from Yarm, was recording her second winner under rules, in addition to seven in point-to-points.
She said: "I'm quite lucky in that I can get back to England quite a lot and I ride out for Dai Williams in Lambourn. Although home is in North Yorkshire, it's a lot easier to get to Heathrow and so I go to Lambourn."
Miss Horner had ridden Noyan on his penultimate start, but military duty prevented her from being aboard when the 10-year-old won at Exeter last week.
She said there were no coincidences surrounding riding arrangements, with Noyan becoming her mount simply because she had been available to ride the horse on the gallops, and the partnership clicked.
She said: "There wasn't any master plan. I just happened to be there at the right time."
She was presented to the Queen Mother after the race. She said: "The Queen Mother commented on how well the horse was jumping, saying that they went off very quickly."
Linton Rocks won the Embassy Leisure Breaks Memorial Handicap Chase under Joe Tizzard for the second year running, and may return to Sandown next month for the Whitbread Gold Cup.
Linton Rocks made all the running and overcame a mistake at the third last to withhold Pennybridge by a neck.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "Riding him from the front is the way to ride him. It's always looked as if he hasn't got the trip because he quite often finds nothing. But what he wants is to be flat out all the way.
"He does like this ground and will come back for the Whitbread if it's fast. He'll get the trip well and off 10st he's certainly worth running."
Timmy Murphy's bold run up the inside turning for home on fencing newcomer Indulge paid off, Mark Pitman's seven-year-old taking command at the final obstacle in the Mousetrap Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase and scoring by nine lengths from Camden Road.
Pitman said: "Timmy's given him a peach. For me there's nobody better riding. He's an exceptional jockey and I'm very happy that he rides my horses."
Ben Hitchcott got a perfect tune out of the giant Satchmo, who won the 'Ubique' Hunters' Chase unchallenged.
Satchmo is likely to contest the Martell Reserve Novices' Hunters' Chase at the Grand National meeting.
The card closed with three Flat races, and Bonaguil, the diminutive winner of the Summit Conferences & Meetings Handicap, illustrated the contrast in sizes.
Richard Mullen dropped his whip approaching the furlong marker on Bonaguil, but it made no difference as his mount scored by one and three-quarter lengths from Sahara Spirit.
"He's not very big but he's all heart, and that's what's important," said trainer Chris Wall, who may return to Sandown next month for a one-mile handicap at the Whitbread meeting.
Jonathan Portman, principally a jump trainer, saddled his first Flat turf winner when Millennium Magic, ridden by Tony Beech, took the Royal Star and Garter Home Maiden Fillies' Stakes at 20-1.
Portman, best known for training the chaser King of Sparta, enjoyed his previous success on the level on the all-weather.
