TRAINER Kerry Lee had a good preparation for Cheltenham Festival week when her Financier turned over the market fancies Hollywoodien and Marracudja to win the two-mile Handicap Chase in the hands of jockey Richard Patrick at Hereford Racecourse.

Always travelling well the eight-year-old, in the ownership of Will Roseff who also owns the Byton trainer's Happy Diva, swept into the lead at the fourth last fence and drew clear from his rivals who never threatened to challenge to win well by ten lengths despite a mistake at the last, writes Graham Saveker

Byton based Lee who has Happy Diva, Strom Control and Ballybegg from her yard entered at Cheltenham in a number of races, was recording her 11th winner of the season.

Worcestershire trainer Henry Oliver often does well with his Hereford runners and his Hirjan gave a determined performance to win by a neck from Maskada in the two mile Mares Hurdle.

Hirjan and Masada had the race to themselves over the final two hurdles as they drew clear of the favourite Strike Hollow, but it took all of jockey Ben Godfrey’s urgings to get his mount home to win by a neck at the winning post as Ciaran Gethings got Masada to respond on the run-in.

Another trainer who was in the winners enclosure was Doctor Richard Newland after his Bali Body stayed on well in the hands of Charlie Hammond to win the three-mile one furlong Maiden hurdle.

Despite a prolonged challenge from eventual runner-up Glentrool over the final three hurdles Bali Body stretched clear and held a two and a quarter length lead at the last which he maintained to the line.