Lucy Bridges came back to a rapturous reception after Nero West gave her a first success as a trainer and seventh as a rider in the second division of the Morris Furniture Group Maiden Hurdle at Wincanton.

There could have been no more fitting or poignant victory for the 26-year-old, who took over the permit at her Shaftesbury yard following the tragic death of her mother, Helen, in a riding accident last April.

Bridges was as surprised as the bookmakers, who sent off Nero West an unconsidered 33-1 chance, as she guided the gelding to a ten-length triumph over odds-on favourite Just For Men.

She said: ''That was a complete surprise and things like this just don't happen very often. It makes those five o'clock mornings so worthwhile.''

Bridges was provided with a temporary licence by the Jockey Club after her mother died from the injuries she sustained when thrown from a horse on the gallops.

She has five horses to run and is not against the idea of partnering some of the others herself.

Bridges added: ''I do it for the fun and the joy of riding but if I felt one of the string would benefit from a conditional jockey or a professional I would gladly do that.

''I thought my horse would enjoy the ground today and was certain he would benefit from the longer distance.''

Paul Nicholls, out of luck with Just For Men, had earlier scored with Geeveem in the first division, providing him with a 29-1 double.

Hobbs Hill came in for some hefty support and was sent off the 10-11 favourite but he was in trouble two out as Geeveem (13-2) and Christian Williams took command.

The combination then pulled nine-lengths clear, with Sir Pandy staying on promisingly in third.

Nicholls said: ''He's taken a while to come to himself but he's fit, he stays and will be even better over further.''

Nicholls then followed up with 3-1 shot Kicks For Free in the Bruton Bumper.

The five-year-old make short work of some well-regarded rivals, eventually scoring by ten lengths from Wyldello in the hands of Liam Heard.

Kicks For Free came to Nicholls via the Tom Costello route and his trainer enthused: ''I worked him over five furlongs with Hors La Loi yesterday and the girl who rode him said he wouldn't get beat.

''It looked a decent race today with a few fancied horses in there and I think my fellow will improve enormously between now and Cheltenham, which will be the next port of call.''

Timmy Murphy was at his best when producing Boundary House (16-1) with a perfectly-timed challenge in the Connaught Cup Day 21st January Handicap Chase.

Murphy delivered his challenge up the inner of Treasulier and the combination readily pulled three-and-a-half-lengths clear.

However, there were some anxious moments for the winner's connections afterwards when oxygen had to be administered to the eight-year-old in the unsaddling ring.

Trainer Jim Old said: ''He does have a problem with his breathing. He has a funny head carriage which can make him choke but I've always thought the world of him in spite of the many problems he's had.''

Alan King and Robert Thornton continued their fine recent run when First De La Brunie beat Sargasso Sea by eight lengths in the Happy New Year Handicap Chase.

King is now keen to make a quick reappearance, adding: ''I knew he would handle the ground and my feeling is we should strike while the iron is hot and run him under a penalty at Huntingdon.''

Crimson Pirate (7-2) defied a 1,029-day absence to lift the Dr Freddie Buckler Novices' Handicap Chase for trainer Ben de Haan, while Return Home (15-8) was on the mark in the Kingwell Lodge Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

l Rookie trainer Tom Dascombe had special cause for celebration at Lingfield as he saddled his first winner.

Ex-jockey Dascombe, who rode in the West Country for several seasons in the early 1990s, gained plenty of training experience when working in Dubai, most notably for South African trainer Mike de Kock.

And having set up on his own in Lambourn, he was left looking forward to the year ahead after seeing Principal Witness hold on in the Littlewoods Lotto4 0800 500 000 Handicap under Steve Drowne.

''I am absolutely thrilled and it's a great start to 2006,'' he said.

''After two disappointments, when we thought the horse would run well and he didn't, I was starting to wonder if I had the wrong idea but I thought the trip would suit him today."