A MEMBER of a famous horse racing family was one of the victors at Knutsford Races over the weekend.

16 year-old Megan Nicholls, daughter of leading National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls, was in superb form at the Point to Point meeting held at Tabley on Sunday, May 18.

Megan was crowned the national Novice Riders champion by winning the 2014 running of the Dodson & Horrell sponsored race.

She rode Join Together who is trained in Somerset by Rose Loxton and owned by Mrs Wendy Fogg.

Charlie Hammond finished second riding Ferbane Man who is trained by his mother Zoe and owned by his father Mike in Wocestershire.

Charlie rides for Dr Richard Newland who trains Pineau De Re, winner of the 2014 Crabbies Grand National. 

Megan took the preceding race by winning the Open Race on Current Event who is partly owned by her father Paul and this horse is also trained by Rose Laxton. 

The most valuable race on the card with a £1,500 fund sponsored by local business man Derek Malam was the inaugural running of the Lord Daresbury North West Area Classic Final.

Horses and jockeys had to qualify for this race by either winning or being placed in specific races held in the North West region this season.

This race was won in great style by OverAfrica owned in Shropshire by David Smith and his son in law Willie Bryan. 

Oliver Greenall, son of Lord Daresbury, a trainer of point to point horses was unable to take home the trophy that his father provided in the classic race.

However, Oliver did not go home empty handed as he won a supporting Maiden races with Alfa Point ridden by his stable jockey Ed Glassonbury. 

The Friends of Manchester Tennis and Racquets Club Novice horse race was taken in sparkling form by Executive Benefit owned by leading owner, Richard Hewitt and trained for him at the Kelsall Hill facilities by Joe O'Shea. 

The VW Warrington sponsored race was won by Dr Double Act owned by Luke Holland and trained for him by Charmaine James, both from Macclesfield. 

The large crowd of racegoers enjoyed themselves in the fantastic parkland setting of Tabley House. There were plenty of things for them to do apart from the racing with a good turnout of trade stands and fair rides and activities for the children.

George Barlow, chairman of the meeting, said: “We put on the most valuable point to point meeting in the country and were rewarded with some high quality racing for the large crowd to enjoy.”