ROOKIE Dalby trainer Jacqueline Coward took the big prize at this year's Middleton point-to-point at Sheriff Hutton.

Former jockey Coward, in her first season as a handler, saddled One Conemara in the Grimthorpe Gold Cup, her first runner in this Yorkshire classic, and this former inmate of Nicky Henderson's big Lambourn yard landed the spoils under Richard Smith.

Constant rain throughout the week provided testing underfoot conditions but the sun shone on the day and spectators turned up in numbers.

The feature event, a sought-after race run over four miles, saw One Conemara and Smith travel smoothly throughout and take up the running between the final two fences, staying on strongly.

Max My Boy and Tom Strawson attempted to steal the race three out but was reeled in by the winner.

The victor for the last three years, Monsieur Jourdain, was the odds-on favourite but never looked comfortable and ended third.

It was a notable success for Smith, who had partnered One Conemara, owned by John and Jenny Nellis, on all his starts this year.

"He had first time blinkers on and they really helped him," said the delighted jockey. "He had his ears pricked walking back."

One of the biggest cheers of the day came in the Open Maiden as Harry Kinder piloted the Guy Brewer-trained Refusal to victory.

Not only was the winner breaking his maiden, but so too were 19-year-old Kinder and long-time owner Chris Beal.

The pair made all the running and held on narrowly from a fast-finishing Four Oceans and Will Easterby, who was returning from a near two-year absence.

Refusal, returning from an absence after having several setbacks, was formerly trained by Caroline Bailey under rules where he was placed numerous times over hurdles and fences.

Kinder, who works two miles down the road from the track for Mark Walford and previously worked for trainers Chris Kellet and Malcolm Jefferson, is in his second season riding as an amateur.

"It's great to finally get a winner," he said. "He jumped really well. He was tired after the last but held on well."

Last season's Yorkshire ladies champion, Emma Todd, was on the scoreboard and got trainer Gillian Boanas her first winner of the season in the two-mile four-furlong maiden for horses who have not run under rules.

Todd and Cloghouge Boy quickened to the front three out and powered up the home straight to win by a distance.

The Intermediate completed a double on the day for Coward as The Highlander was never headed and galloped on strongly in testing conditions.

The opening race had been the Hunt Members and went to Comedinewithme and Smith, while the Restricted went to Paul Collins' Solid Strike, making it two from three this season.

The Club race saw All Great N Theory make all the running under Clare Hart only for favourite Carlton Ryan to get up near the line after a late surge to win by a couple of lengths under Will Easterby.