MARY REVELEY maintained her brilliant course record at Sedgefield yesterday with a 20-1 double via Terdad and What A Tale.

Mrs Reveley was away in London lending support to her grandson, who had qualified for the Wembley Horse Show, but that didn't stop Terdad getting the ball rolling for the stable with a battling success in the Joe Rigatonis Claiming Hurdle.

It was a seventh success for the eight-year-old, who out-battled the long-distance Lambourn raider, Empire Park, under a determined drive from Alan Dempsey.

What A Tale wasted little time making it two for the Lingdale handler when he justified favouritism in the John Hellens Novices' Chase.

The winner needed plenty of stoking up by winning rider, Alan Ross, although he was always holding the late challenge of the Kate Milligan-trained runner-up, Piccadilly.

Reveley's Travelling Head Lad, Jock Carcary said: "We've always thought a lot of What A Tale, but basically he was a shade disappointing last season. This win will however have done him the power of good."

Newcastle-based trainer Andy Scott found a bargain when he paid just 5,000 guineas for Rebel Son at the Doncaster Sales in May.

The rapidly-improving gelding brought his tally to three for the year when he cruised home in the opening John Joyce Novices' Hurdle.

"He's a gorgeous horse and Mick FitzGerald told me he'd love to ride him when we put him over fences," said Scott after his seven-year-old had captured the opener.

There was a thrilling finale to the John Alderson Memorial Handicap Chase when Weaver George came from another county to nail Artictaldi right on the lollipop.

"We've had the virus and loads of hassle from the foot-and-mouth epidemic," noted the relieved Consett-based trainer Wilf Storey.

The win ended a losing run which stretched back to last November when Turtle prevailed at Catterick.

The meeting was held in aid of the Hartlepool Hospice Appeal, for which there was a collection from the crowd throughout the afternoon.