WETHERBY staged a good card on Wednesday afternoon, with the beginners' chase the highlight as Run Ructions Run saw off Kaki De La Pree and Milansbar.

Tim Easterby's mare ran several good races over hurdles last season, most notably when second at the Betfair Chase meeting at Haydock, and scored at Listed level the season before.

She never quite hit the heights expected of her after that, but in making a winning seasonal return in the Last Day Racing UK Free Trial Beginners' Chase, the 11-4 chance could take quite high rank in her new discipline.

Kaki De La Pree, beaten a length, adds substance to the form having been placed in graded company last season, but Milansbar was arguably unlucky as, having jumped for fun at the head of affairs, he still held an advantage at the last when a jolting mistake stopped him in his tracks.

Run Ructions Run quickened up as best she could in the heavy ground, providing Brian Hughes with his eighth winner in six days.

Peter Easterby, the trainer's father, said: "Brian had to hold on to her for as long as he could, as she can be quite tricky and think she's done enough once she hits the front.

"I don't think she wants the ground as bad as that, so she's done well to win.

"She's really filled out and strengthened up over the summer."

Neil King was obviously disappointed Milansbar's only mistake came at the last.

"The fences are there to be jumped, but other than that he did everything very well," he said.

"He jumped like an old hand, like he does at home, and I'll try to find another little race for him somewhere."

While the jumping is now in full swing, there is still plenty of all-weather action and James Bethell made the long journey to Kempton on Wednesday evening worthwhile as Fruit Salad lost her maiden tag at the third time of asking.

She was ridden by Joe Fanning, who said afterwards: "I thought Fruit Salad was going to win easily, but she's just started to pull up a little when in front. She's still a bit green and can go on from this."

Later in the evening, Mark Johnston was on the mark in the Listed race with Fire Fighting, who produced a typically tough performance to get his head home in front once again.

Never far off the pace set by Hamelin in the mile-and-a-half event, Fire Fighting, having his 25th start of the year, was steered towards the cut-away after the runners turned for home.

There were four in a line two furlongs out, but the 4-1 winner responded well to urgings to lead with just over a furlong to run.

Sticking his neck out in determined fashion, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding ran on strongly to deny Hamelin's trainer George Scott a first winner with his maiden runner, having formerly been assistant to Lady Cecil.

Paul Nicholls is looking for more Hennessy Gold Cup glory at Newbury tomorrow with top weight Saphir Du Rheu.

The champion trainer feels the six-year-old's early travails in his novice season, when he failed to complete in two of his first three outings over fences and reverted to hurdles briefly, made a man of him.

"My horse needed that pipe-opener at Carlisle and will come on tons for the run. Sam Twiston-Davies schooled him on Monday morning and he went great," Nicholls said.

"He missed a month before Carlisle as he got an eye infection and had to go to Newmarket for surgery.

"Those (early) races were the making of him and then he went back over fences and won the Mildmay Novices Chase like an old pro.

"Saturday will tell us if he is a Gold Cup candidate this season, or if we must wait another year. He is only six, but has Kauto Star's pace and Denman's stamina.

"To win the Hennessy as a second-season chaser would be a great effort. There are horses in it who are a lot more streetwise."