SPECTATORS braved the freezing conditions for a seven-race Vine & Craven Hunt meeting at Barbury racecourse on Sunday.

In between light flurries of snow, with the ground riding good-good to soft in places, clerk of the course John White moved rails so fresh ground was on offer for the 144 entries.

Two major sponsors for the 2016-17 pointing season, Timico and Subaru both putting up qualifiers for respective finals at Cheltenham and Stratford later in the spring.

Alexandra Bell’s 11-year-old Ni Sin E Mo Ainm, ridden by the trainer took the Timico-sponsored Mixed Open race - a qualifier for the Timico Mixed Open final at Cheltenham on May 5 - beating 5/1 shot Templebraden and Zac Baker and 5/4 favourite Caesars Milan from the Rose Loxton yard into the minor placings.

"I thought he would be there or thereabouts,’ said Bell.

"I picked up this fella for £500 from (Wiltshire trainer) Neil Mulholland and he won an open for me last season, but he travelled so well for me today and I was delighted in the way he actually won the race.''

The trainer, from the nearby Broad Hinton yard once occupied by Andy Turnell added: "It’s a great place to train, we work them hacking around over the hills.

"This fella's aim is the final at Cheltenham so we're are on our way to the goal hopefully.’ The Subaru-sponsored Restricted race, the final of which is being held at Stratford on June 9, was taken by Sally Alner’s Apple’s Queen, owned by the T.L.T Partnership.

The trainer was watching her runners from the horsebox, supporting a broken leg due to a kick received early in the season.

Jockey Lorcan Williams, who was rushing off for evening stables with Paul Nicholls' racing, said: "He is a nice type. He was meant to run last weekend but we hung on for the ground and this meeting.

"I think he’d be a nice intermediate type but I’ll leave that to Sally and the owners to discuss, but he likes this type of ground and he jumps well.''

Chepstow Racecourse sponsored the opening race of the meet, The Chepstow Racecourse and PPORA Club members race for novice riders.

Seventeen runners went to post, Tim Underwood’s Tempelpirate taking the race on three out to take the last with a good lead for jockey Fiona Dennington, riding her first-ever winnern.

"Credit to Mr Underwood and the team this horse ran so well for me, we had a plan and it has worked out so well for me, he was the best horse for sure on the day,'' she said.

The Ramsbury Vodka 4,5,6 year olds Open Maiden, run over two miles and four furlongs was taken by trainer Laura Thomas, named as the Dodson & Horrell trainer/owner for January, with her five-year-old mare Black Sam Bella, ridden by Johnny Bailey.

"She is such a lovely mare who really loves her work,'' said Thomas.

"I was impressed how she attacked her fences as they have picked up the pace coming to the final two. She is a favourite in the yard I bought her as a three-year-old and broke her in myself, she has never put a foot wrong.

Jockey Bailey added:’ I think she could be something very nice, she has pace and stays well, I had trouble pulling her up, she was very novicey but that’s understandable really being her first time out. But you cannot fault her as she has won the race really.''

The Jockey Club Estates Open Maiden was taken by Elizabeth Brown's six-year-old Sarazen Bridge, ridden by Nick Phillips.

Third in his previous outing at the course in January in a two mile four furlong maiden, the gelding found the three miles more suited to his liking, having had some schooling sessions with three-day eventer Laura Collett.

The two miles four furlongs’ mares and fillies Conditions race was taken by a horse Lost In A Fog, last seen at Barbury in the International meeting in one of the divisions of the inaugural bumper races.

Owned by the rider then, John Reddington, and trained now by Thomas Gallagher, the five-year-old mare took her first show over fences well, ridden by in-form jockey Shane Roche, beating the more experienced Dabinett Moon.

The Vine & Craven members race saw only three go to post, with only two finishers.

Tracey Bailey’s Broadway Symphony took control and beat 4/7 favourite Rise to it just on the line.

The 10-year-old, with a seven lbs penalty, looked weary as he took the final two in sapping ground which allowed the Karen Hobbs charge to catch up and challenge the lead on the short run-in.

Barbury concludes its 2017 fixtures with the Tedworth Hunt meeting on April 9.