While only 19 runners went to post at Siddington on Saturday, the huge crowd was treated to sunny weather, close finishes in three of the five competitive events and another stunning performance by front-running veteran Southfield Theatre.

Trainer James Henderson and his jockey son Freddie took the honours with a double. Their first winner was Epi Sacre in the Strutt & Parker Conditions Race. Just three faced the starter but the race saw the most exciting finish of the day. Tidal Flow led early from odds-on Largy Mountain with Epi Sacre last and soon behind. When the favourite took the lead four out and went several lengths clear, the race looked over. However, the ex-French eight-year-old found a second wind, quickly made-up ground between the last two fences and - helped by a couple of slow jumps from Largy Mountain - led on the run-in to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths with a rallying Tidal Flow two lengths behind.

"That's a surprise to all of us," laughed Lucinda Henderson, representing her absent husband, afterwards. "He broke a blood vessel at Larkhill and at the ditch I thought, 'Here we go again!' He was useful in France but hadn't run for a long time and we got him for a reasonable price - he's quite fragile and we have to train him from the field." Freddie concurred with his mother, saying, "I just hoped he'd get round without bleeding. Turning for home, I was surprised how well he was going and the leaders started coming back to me two out, but I didn't think I'd win until the line." Freddie's brother George - away on a stag weekend - normally rides him and the winning jockey admitted, "I'd never jumped a fence with him before!"

James and Freddie completed their brace with Frisson Collonges, who won a match for the Sewell Mullings & Logie Restricted Race. The seven-year-old followed up his recent Larkhill success with an all the way victory from sole rival Call His Bluff, whose chance wasn't helped by a dreadful mistake at the 12th, from which jockey Zac Baker did well to recover. The official distance of one-and-a-half lengths does not do justice to the winner's superiority.

"He's new this year - we got him from Dan Skelton," confirmed Lucinda Henderson afterwards, "And as you can see, he's a huge unit. He's taken some getting fit and, though he won at Larkhill, the race fell apart. Two-runner races are difficult - the pace was slow - and he jumped awfully to begin with, but got better as the race went on." It was a first double for the Hendersons since 2017 and 26-year-old Freddie, a true amateur who is an art dealer in London during the week, confirmed afterwards, "George and I share the rides and he'd have ridden Epi Sacre if he'd been here. I'm the luckiest jockey in the changing room, thanks to Dad's irrational love for this sport! Mum, Dad and the team at home - led by Sharon and Casey - do all the work. I just sit on the horses at the weekend."

The opening contest, the Bathurst Estates Members Race had four runners and the Hendersons were denied a potential treble when their Fixe Le Kap was second to market rival Fil D'Ariane, a first winner for 37-year-old Doug White after ten years of trying. The seven-year-old, who was a good second on his pointing debut at Didmarton, took the lead from flag fall, soon went five or six lengths clear and - despite the late challenge of Fixe Le Kap, who had been held up early - managed to hang on to score by a length. Barley Hill was 20 lengths away in third.

"That's absolutely fantastic," enthused proud parents John and pioneering lady rider Rosemary afterwards. "We were lucky to get the horse. He came from Tom Symonds and the owner didn't want to sell the horse, so gave him to Doug. He won the VWH Hunt ride and was going to go for the Golden Button too, but we thought he was too good for scurries, so we sent him pointing." Fil D'Ariane was continuing a long history of success for the White family in this race, Rosemary having won it on Bright Chance in 1978 and John's father taking the 1938 event, "On a horse that cost just £20 and that he sold for £100 immediately afterwards!"

"That feels pretty good as it's taken a long time," said a relieved Doug, another proper amateur who finally getting off the mark on his 21st ride, the first having been back in 2011. "I used to be in the Army and had a couple of horses then, but now farm near Barbury racecourse. I bought Fil D'Ariane as a hunter and team chaser, but decided to race him as he looked smart on the gallops. My aim now is to match Dad's record - he won two races!"

The day's showpiece event was the Arkell's Brewery Mixed Open Race, another three-runner contest and yet another family success. Prolific 14-year-old Southfield Theatre, bidding for a fifth win of the season, 12th in points and 21st overall, was made long odds-on favourite and didn't disappoint his many supporters. A habitual front-runner, he was taken on by outsider of three Bandsman and - as a result - didn't always jump with his usual fluency. However, he eventually saw off the challenger, went clear four out and finished over a fence clear of Ennistown, who was tailed-off for most of the race but finished with a late rattle to deny the gallant Bandsman second by eight lengths.

"He did that perfectly well," replied winning trainer Sara Bradstock to my question about Southfield Theatre's jumping. "He's not stupid and - even if he gets close to a fence - he's still quicker than the rest. He's a wonderful, enthusiastic professional and we'll go for the Leading Horse title with him now - would he be the first 14-year-old to win it? It's all about keeping him happy and we won't over-race him, but the ground's going in his favour - we could do with some walkovers!" The winning rider, Sara's daughter Lily, confirmed, "That was pretty good, although I was surprised how long Bandsman stayed upsides him. He quickened up nicely and I kept riding him to the line because I was nervous after our dead-heat at Larkhill. I couldn't pull him up afterwards!"  

James King matched Freddie Henderson with two winners, although the first was a walkover in the Pegasus Club Members Race for barrister-cum-trainer Graeme McPherson, who had been trying to win this race for many years! James' second success was on Duntish in the Stacks Property Search Maiden Race, which had six runners, the biggest field of the day. Always prominent, the seven-year-old mare took the lead five out and quickened clear. She was chased by Some Boy McCoy and headed two out but didn't give up and battled back on the run-in to score by half-a-length in a driving finish. Favourite and early leader Frankie Faulkner was 17 lengths third.

Duntish was a welcome first winner of the season for owner Sarah Dawson and Broadway-based trainer Tor Collins. "I bought her blind at Ascot Sales as a broodmare," confirmed Sarah. "She's a big mare and ran as a five-year-old but it all came too quickly for her. I didn't care what she looked like as I wanted one by Kayf Tara. When she arrived, Tor said she was beautiful and that she thought we might have another Queen Olivia (who won a Hunter Chase for the pair and was placed in a further six). She ran well at Larkhill, where she hung, and hated the ground at Guilsborough. James said that everything about her is class."

Winning trainer Tor praised her owner, saying, "I've got eight or nine in training, mostly for Sarah. She's been with me for over a dozen years and is a great owner, easy to get on with and understanding," and confirmed her view of Duntish, telling me, "From the minute she came, I said she'd be special - she gives me a great feel at home." It was a 23rd win of the season for champion jockey James - who is second in this year's title race, eight behind leader Will Biddick. "It's been a good season again so far," he said afterwards, "And I'm within striking distance of Will. I've got lots of maidens to ride for Station Yard Racing and Luke Price's horses are running into form, so I'm hoping to be champion again and will give it my best shot."