THE journey back home to Norton in Yorkshire will have seemed a lot shorter for connections of Max Of Stars as she added to her tally of five hurdle wins, writes David Hucker.

This included two over the course, when landing Newton Abbot's feature race, the Class Three Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

With Get The Value an absentee, the race only really concerned the front two in the betting with Seeyouinmydreams just shading favouritism ahead of Max Of Stars. The two mares came into the home straight locked together, but it was Max Of Stars, the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies, who showed the better speed from the final hurdle.

Favourite backers got off to a good start when Isle Of Sark, ridden by Harry Cobden, comfortably took the opening South West Rail Solutions Limited Maiden Hurdle.

This was his first run over hurdles since joining trainer Tony Carroll from Ireland and, having jumped past leader Linden Lane at the third-last flight, Isle Of Sark saw off the challenge of outsider Rubys Legacy from the last.

Stinginhisstep came good here in May when winning at the eighth attempt and he raced with enthusiasm in the lead in the Weatherbys Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

He was passed by hat-trick seeking Keel Strand at the third-last flight who set sail for home with conditional jockey Jay Tidball, only to find Chepstow winner Impecunious ranging alongside over the final two hurdles. Sent off the 4/6 favourite, Keel Strand came away from the final flight the quicker and, on the short run-in, held on to win by ¾ length.

There was another close finish in the South West Rail Solutions Limited Mares' Handicap Hurdle when Hurst Hill just got the better of Kenmya by a neck.

Only fourth turning into the home straight, Hurst Hill got to the front under Daniel Sansom only to hand Kenmya the advantage with a mistake at the final flight. She fought back, however, to get her head in front again near the line with favourite Miss Popalong, who was prominent throughout, eight lengths away in third.

Raised 6lbs for his Cartmel win and now racing off his highest-ever handicap mark, the consistent Shillanavogy struck again to take the Helen Hambly Happy 50th Birthday Handicap Chase from Feel The Pinch, who was looking to follow up his win over hurdles at the last meeting.

There was no need for the photo finish camera this time though, as 6/5 favourite Shillanavogy controlled the race from the start, being pushed out by James Bowen to score by 7½ lengths.

Testflight, still to win after 20 starts under Rules, but a good second over the course the previous week, headed the market for the closing South West Rail Solutions Ltd Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.

There was also money for My Girl Katie, a beaten favourite on her return to racing under Rules after two point-to-point wins, who was backed from 15/2 to 9/2, before easing to 5/1 at the off and, under a well-timed ride by Conor Ring, she jumped past Testflight at the final fence to win comfortably.