WINTRY conditions at Sedgefield yesterday didn't spoil Darlington-based hairdresser Brian Bradbury's day when Diamond Crown won for the eighth time.

Admittedly it was only a lowly Selling Hurdle, but Diamond Crown has been a great servant to Bradbury, who bought him for 600 guineas out of Paul Cole's yard as a two-year-old.

"He's won every year for me since I bought him," said Brian, who added: "I thought we might be struggling to maintain his record but he's finally done it."

It would have been a major injustice for Diamond Crown if he hadn't won because he has been beaten by a short-head at Musselburgh on the level this year, and has been runner-up over jumps numerous times, including five of his last seven starts.

Formerly trained by Martyn Wane near Richmond, the winner is now in the capable hands of veteran Bishop Auckland handler Denys Smith.

Northallerton-based farmer Edwin Tuer also enjoyed his day out with impressive juvenile hurdle scorer Bula Rose.

Bula Rose fairly sprinted away from her rivals in the two-mile-and-one furlong opener in the style of an improving filly. "She had an aversion to the stalls so wasn't much good on the flat, but she's decent over the jumps and could be good enough to defy a double penalty," said Tuer, the winning owner/trainer.

Minster York won the Johnny Ridley Memorial Novices' Chase with almost embarrassing ease.

First season trainer Andy Crook, who has about 25 jumpers in residence at his Middleham stable, was gifted the horse by Billy Turner, brother of Boroughbridge National Hunt handler Jim.

"I nearly took him out following the rain as he needs fastish ground," said Crook, who was full of praise for the successful jockey Wilson Renwick.

Stamparland's victory in division one of the Oakly For Mitsubishi Novices' Hurdle was much more hard fought. In a thrilling three-way duel to the line, Malcolm Jefferson's strapping six-year-old edged ahead of the persistent challengers, Toshiba Times and Familie Footsteps.

In division two, Jonjo O'Neill's Intersky Falcon made the long trip up from Jackdaws Castle in Gloucestershire pay when he galloped his rivals into submission for an emphatic success.

O'Neill completed a short-priced double when Barrelbio won the closing two mile five furlong handicap hurdle partnered by Tony Dobbin